Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

Err, not entirely........... both have suffered "minor mishaps" in the recent past have they not?....... I mentioned whiplash at the time in the 71000 thread at the time, and got shouted down at the time and all I was doing was asking for a reason from the "experts"!

I know what whiplash is like - I've had it from a car smack that wasn't my fault, it takes time for it to manifest - which is why I ask, or suggest what has happened to both could be a symptom of said whiplash................ you hit something however hard, you send a shock wave, usually the weakest point at impact, in the case of the Duke - the valve gear, yet nobodies given this a thought as far as I know, and now,in the case of the Brit - has what the Brit experienced caused said problem to manifest thereby opening said "can of worms"?...........

I ask questions to things I don't know & I'd like an answer to, and so far, you have been most helpful!

 

Anyhow, anyone up for the KWVR gala for a nameless 34092?

 

I'm not sure that the comparison with whiplash is very illuminating, metallic items react very differently to stresses (especially transient stresses) than biological items.

 

I really feel for the owner... it just seems to be one cheque after another, with only winner being the contractors doing the work.
Cant be much fun owning a fleet of mainline locos, many supposedly operational, yet it seems they spend most of their time being "worked on" by mechanics.
Hope he's getting a good rate.

when you look at it...

5029 was out of service for nearly a year ? and back this year
6024 under overhaul since purchase
46100 under overhaul since completion of its last overhaul
34046 just over a year on the mainline and now it's out for months
35027 non-working since purchase
70000 major work, then major repairs, followed by more major work

only shining star in this lot is Bittern... but it's time is due at the end of the year.

I don't see how it can be self-sustaining on the current basis.

 

Only goes to show the standard of work at Ropley "Home for the Bewildered" turning her from an utter wreck back to a mainline racehorse!!

In a vain attempt to bring this thread vaguely back on topic...... ....... When I was speaking to the lads in charge of Braunton at the MHR SSG, I was told that little or nothing needs to be done to the bottom end - just a re-tube, that was planned to be done over the winter period, so nothing lost & she'll be back in action come next Spring.

 

I agree. Must be a bit of a headache dealing with all of the problems. I certainly wouldn't want to run a steam loco on the ML these days. I have great admiration for those who do in what becomes a more challenging pursuit as the years pass.

Don't forget JH still has loco's operating on Preserved lines whilst his ML fleet is out of action. 4270 is currently part of the GWR fleet, 6960 is established as one of the resident fleet on the WSR and 92212 is part of the MHR resident loco fleet.

 

I was told the following some time ago and it appears to be very true.

A steam loco owner was asked:
"Can you make a small fortune from owning a steam loco?"
Reply:
"Yes. If you start with a large one!"

 

Wasn't that Ian Riley? "the only way to make a small fortune out of a steam loco is to start off with a large one!"

 

Possibly. As I said, I was told this and not witness to it. Certainly seems to ring true though!

 

Gave me a little chuckle when I first heard it, but it certainly does ring true!

 

Surely it was Bert?

 

Well, Bert seems to be looking to liquefy that particular asset. We digress.

 

Tangers on her way home at lunchtime, can be seen Here.......

 

Whoever it was, they were repeating an old line which has been used of many endeavours (I first heard it about airlines); I don't know where (and when) it started, though.

A quick Google search pops up this page with a documented instance from 1951.

Noel

 

Has anyone got any links to photos that show any bulleid locos that are under overhaul or various stages of restoration?

Thank You
Ben

 

You mean Ian Riley's fleet of Bulleids?? I too wouldn't mind seeing some updates and photos! All seems pretty hush!

 

they are all being rebuilt as 4-6-0's with a stanier boiler and painted black

 

Sorry, I'm talking about 35018/022 etc..... Love the Sarcasm of this forum....