Merchant Navy 35018 British India Line

[steve74]

Just thought I'd post a couple of pics of this unrestored, but very complete Bullied Pacific. Seems such a shame it just sitting there in an industrial estate.

[kieranhardy]

It is indeed a shame this locomotive has become quite forgotten and left. At one time she was at the Watercress line and was within a year from steaming, but sadly (i think) the railway asked the locomotive to be moved due to lack of progress. Out of all the Bulleids in scrap yard condition she is probably one of the most appealing as she is more complete and even comes with a tender. Safe to say what work she did have done at the MHR has no doubt been undone by the sea air.

It would be nice to see her return to steam, specially as she was the first Bulleid pacific to be rebuilt in 1956. But with 11 of them surviving and so far only 3 having returned to steam, they aren't the most luckiest of classes to survive. Of course 35006 is at a very advanced stage and 35009 should be restored. 35011 & 35025 are also receiving attention. So hopefully one day it may total 6 or 7 to return.

Thanks for sharing.

[almark]

Someone ought to contact Jeremy Hosking.....mind you he already owns 35027 so he may not be interested.

It certainly needs to be continued,another MN would never go amiss,probably my favourite of all Southern/SR pacifics.

[kieranhardy]

Someone ought to contact Jeremy Hosking.....mind you he already owns 35027 so he may not be interested.

I think his interest is to have no more than one of anything.

Although he does have 35027 'Port Line' & 35022 'Holland America Line' in his ownership, the latter acting as a doner locomotive for 35027 which includes her boiler. I don't think he has ruled out returning 35022 to steam but i would think she is severely stripped of most components.

As can be seen in these shots: http://www.pvsonline.com/gallery2/main. ... temId=2332

Thankfully though the light pacifics have done far better in preservation than their bigger cousins. Currently 15 of the 20 survivors have returned to steam at somepoint with 34053 'Sir Keith Park' returning hopefully next year. And 34010 'Sidmouth' in the coming years, so hopefully totalling 17. That leaves 34058 'Sir Frederick Pile' undergoing slow restoration at the Avon Valley Railway, 34051 'Winston Churchill' on static display at the NRM, doubtful to return to steam & 34073 '249 Squadron' in scrapyard condition at the ELR failing to find a seller. If 34058 does steam, 18 out of the 20 lights returning mostly from scrapyard condition is a very impressive achievement!

probably my favourite of all Southern/SR pacifics.

There's only two SR pacifics to choose from though!

[almark]

Haha,i aint even gonna bother working them out!!!!

Any ideas how far 35027 is from completion Kieran?? Also,i assume it will go mainline?

Not that long since it worked at Swanage (about 5 years?),surprised it needs so much work.

Cheers,
Mark

[kieranhardy]

Haha,i aint even gonna bother working them out!!!!

Any ideas how far 35027 is from completion Kieran?? Also,i assume it will go mainline?

Not that long since it worked at Swanage (about 5 years?),surprised it needs so much work.

As far as i know the overhaul hasn't really begun with 35027. The reason being because 6100 'Royal Scot' was the priority. Due to the problems found i think 35027 is to be overhauled elsewhere so a new place to do this is being sourced. 35027 will go mainline eventually once complete.

35027 last ran in October 2003. She was originally supposed to run at Swanage but as she was too heavy she moved to the Bluebell and operated there from 1988 until 1996. She had many boiler tubes replaced in 96 but a hydraulic test identified faults with the firebox in 1997. She only had 9 months left on her ticket so was withdrawn. She finally moved to Swanage in early 2000 and returned to service later that year after more boiler work. She was only allowed a very restricted amount of steamings each year. Possibly due to the condition, the fact she is larger than a light and her overall weight all playing a part. She was withdrawn when cracks in the firebox were found. She was finally sold to Jeremy Hosking in 2004 awaiting her turn for overhaul.