34039 Boscastle WC class

While I appreciate that there is still a way to go (and more money to be raised) before Boscastle steams again, I am pleased that the AGM went well and that the group handling its restoration seem to be in a positive frame of mind, judging by what you have said. The theft of all those parts must have been a gut-wrenching experience for all involved, but thankfully, judging by your pictures and reports, the determination is still very much there there to pick up the pieces, get on with the job and see this loco back in action again.

 

Just going to say this now, but when this engine is overhauled, up and running, don't be suprised if these green region railways are going to battle it out to get this, like they don't get enough Bulleids already.

 

I believe those at Haven Street have already put their request in…

Just out of interest what do you mean by battling it out to get this?
Do you mean loco/traffic managers are going to having to take up duelling pistols and walk 10 paces, or maybe go something a bit Hunger Games?
From my own experiences I believe it’s usually a piece of paper, a conversation and a cup tea that are usually involved in locomotive hire agreements.

 

When it's finished, can we not just enjoy it at the railway it's resided at for half a century? Having spent 86% of its residency out of traffic I think it would be nice to get a bit of use out of it.

 

Dance off?
Shellac discs of tea dances at the ready...

Nice to see they did get an insurance pay-out for the thefts.

 

I think I need to add a fourth law of Nat Pres: “No loco can approach completion without a huge clamour to see it operate anywhere else other than where it has been restored”.

Tom

 

No. The fictional gala/ glorified train set posting must continue.

 

Or they might just say "Meh, yet another Bulleid. When can we have Flying Scotsman?"

 

Personally I'd love to see it operating at the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Bridgnorth cliff Railway

 

More of a challenge would be the
The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway
Surely?

 

At this stage it is only stated as "recommendation for payment", I don't think any money has yet been paid out....There is still a lot of work to do on the boiler, then all the reassembly jobs. The tender is just about finished and will then be available for hire to other Bulleid locomotive groups, if required.

 

Ah, still at least you are only arguing how much. (Which can still be pretty difficult).

 

Boscastle shed Tours are taking place at Loughborough this weekend. Hopefully we can get an update on the various locomotives in the shed from a visitor?

 

Good News!!
Information already shared with Boscastle shareholders and members of the BOS Club.

 

News from the Boscastle website re Shed tours for 2024:-

"At long last the huge job of refurbishing the locomotive shed at Loughborough is drawing to a close, and we are able to offer Shed Tours again.


The timetable for 2024 is as follows:-

March 16th & 17th

April 20th & 21st

May 11th & 12th

June 1st & 2nd

July 6th & 7th

August 10th & 11th

September 7th & 8th

October 5th & 6th

November 16th & 17th"

 

The Boscastle team have been continuing the slow process of rebuilding the tender brake rigging. This is complicated as there are two brakes on each wheel and some parts were among those stolen and so are having to be made again.
There is the opportunity to see the progress as the guided Boscastle Shed Tours are happening March 16/17th.

 

I had just three runs behind 34039 in the 1960s. But sadly I took no photos of the loco.

The attached was the best run. The 15.00 Bournemouth West to Waterloo which was quite interesting as it had a booked Micheldever stop, which was not usual for an up Bournemouth semi-fast train. Plus a 24 minute (almost even time start to stop) schedule Basingstoke to Woking. Shown as such in the winter 1964 timetable, Bournemouth table 32, but shown as departing Basingstoke at its arrival time to give a 26 minute schedule in table 35, the West of England timetable. Plus a 5 minute wait at Woking.

A nice timekeeping run on a 12 vehicle load, except for the run in from Surbition, where it looks like the up Guildford New Line emu (I think EPBs) may have been running late and on the up main on its non-stop Surbiton-Waterloo section. It was fairly normal for the up emus to be put out in front of up main line Weymouth, Bournemouth and West of England trains at Surbiton (especially the dreaded Bils!). That was because the emus had short turn around times at Waterloo, whereas the steam hauled main line trains had much longer turn rounds. It usually resulted in 'interesting' language amongst the timing gricers when that fairly sensible operating procedure messed up the overall time of a fast up steam run!

Now 34039 on the 15.00 Bournmouth West to Waterloo on 28 December 1964. And of course if my timing log is of any use to those involved in getting Boscastle back into service, please feel free to use it as you think fit - I can suppy it as a text box on a Word .doc if needed.

Bryan B.

 

Many thanks for the log and your experiences Bryan B, Much appreciated, I would like to use it in a future Boscastle Bulletin ( BOS Club newsletter) if I may and possible get in onto the Boscastle Website. I will send you a PM for the word doc.

 

Get enough Bulleids?

No; I've tried Googling that; I've asked learned professors; I've even asked those who translated the Red Sea Scrolls - all without success as it seems to be a concept that is totally alien to planet earth

 

Here is a reminder of what we are trying to achieve... an overhauled Boscastle running on the GCR. (This was taken back in 1998 though).