Pannier 3650

I saw one of those on ebay a couple of weeks ago strangely, starting price about twice as much as the price listed there.

 

If anyone really wanted one it would be cheaper to join the collectors club for a year than pay double!!
Alternatively, you could enquire at the Didcot shop next weekend as they will be taking delivery of 10 by special arrangement with Bachmann, although it might pay to ring and get one put aside before travelling, as they'll go pretty quick.

 

3650 is currently on hire to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
While there she will be taking part in various events including the wartime weekend, steam and vintage weekend and has already clocked up this weekend running the Moonraker Cream Tea service.
3650 will also be available for "Steam Taster" driver experience days.
More details can be found at http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/index.php#top

 

was pleased to see her NOT in blue at Didcot recently. I had nothing against the livery you understand, except that I saw her when she first arrived and she did NOT look like the models do!

 

This is a slide I took around the time 3650 arrived at Didcot.

 

Where is that picture at Didcto taken ? Loocs to be the running shed to the left but it doesnt fit ????

When will 50 be back at Didcot ? oh and back in blue !

Great Western.

 

That's the back of the lifting shop, before the new works was built and, depending on date, the site probably ended just short of what was then a filled in turntable!!
(Making me feel old now too!!)

Anyway, we're having great fun at Swindon & Cricklade,... ran the Moonraker Dining Cream Tea train yesterday, then had a play with a freight train in the setting sun in the evening.

 

The processing date on the slide is June '73

 

I could make you feel even older now Pannier Man!! 9 months into your railway employment I think? :wink:

 

Hi Bryan,... you and me both m8. I think I'm the only one of the original 6 our end of the line still gainfully employed on the railway since the tampers moved out of Reading. With the exception of one from Chepstow I know of, I wonder where all the others from the class of '72/73 are now?

3650 will be steaming at Swindon & Cricklade on the following dates:
July 3,24 + 31.
August 7,13,14,28 + 29.
September 4,10,11 + 18.
October 9.

There are also some "Steam Taster" driving experience days available, plus a photo charter, dates to be announced.
http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/ for more details.

 

If you're out and about tomorrow, Sunday 15th Jan, in the Wiltshire / Oxfordshire - A419/A420/A34 area, keep a look out for 3650 returning from Swindon & Cricklade to Didcot RC.

We're on our way home after spending a great summer and autumn season up to Xmas with the guys from S & CR.

 

As many will know, 3650 has been spending the last couple of months at the SVR. They've made us very welcome and we've made some great friends.
They also helped us out recently with the washout and some minor repairs when 3650's maintenance team were having trouble getting time off work etc, to get there and help out.

For that reason, we've given 3650 over to them FOC for their gala, as a way of saying thanks.

However, watch this space, as 3650 will shortly be moving on to another railway, but not wanting to steal their thunder, we'll be letting them do the publicity thing first.

 

3650 certainly looked at home at the Severn Valley Autumn Gala yesterday. A very nice engine. <BJ>

 

Now confirmed on the weekly Bluebell newsletter - 3650 is coming on 26 Sept and is due to stay until the end of the year.

Tom

 

Had a cracking afternoon on this machine on Friday on the local. Noted a few differences from ours. It's clean between the frames; you need an NBC suit to prep one of ours normally. It doesn't bounce as much at speed, although you didn't seem to be able to link it up as much without losing clear exhaust beats and, with our Panniers, they bounced most when you were in first or second notch from mid-gear. Piloting back to Bewdley last trip, with 42968 holding it down, it was silky smooth. The reverser was seriously stiff to operate, I occasionally needed assistance to put it in full back gear. That felt like it might be a lubrication problem, unless the compensating spring is shot. The regulator was also stiff, although it eased once I realised that the lubricator glass for it was turned off, and opened it!

Apart from that, it steamed like a witch, ran like a dream and was very economical. Lovely machine. Thanks, "Black Cupboard Gang," whoever you are. I hope you got some good shots of the headboard, despite the less than nominal weather.

Regards,

jtx

 

You are very Welcome.
We got a few good ones.
The Black Cupboard Gang is the name for us the guys that restored/look after 3650. It comes from the Black ex Swindon Works Chargehands Cupboard in 3650's corner of Didcots works that hold many of the loco's spares and tools.

 

Lovely atmospheric shot. In the background, something is departing with the train I had just brought in. We are standing at the stop blocks in Platform1, waiting for the dummy to clear us into 1 engine line to the column, where 5164 is currently having a drink. I too, am having a drink, of tea, in the cab, directly behind 3650's dome, keeping out of the rain. If you look carefully, you won't see me!

 

Whys 3650 gone to Bullbell? I thought 92212 was surposed to go back?

 

Another victim of auto correct ?

Is it visiting for an event, or are Sheffield Park a bit short on motive power again ?, either way good she's getting some real mileage and hire fee's.