55 022 has just passed Crewe at 13.20 on it’s way to Bo’ness.
Light Engine Movement
55 022 is expected to depart Barrow Hill tomorrow, 14th May, at around 10:00 running light engine to Bo’ness via Crewe and the West Coast Main Line. No other timings are available at the moment.
Cornish First
First Plus tickets for the Cornish Explorer railtour on June 28th are now sold out.
Kyle date change.
We’ve been advised this week by the SRPS that the Kyle railtour scheduled for May 31st will now run on June 1st instead. Unfortunately due to engineering works the train will no longer pick up from East Lothian stations but will instead start and finish at Edinburgh Waverley. Our tour manager Guy Middleton will be in touch with all who have booked through us. Anyone who couldn’t travel on the Saturday but can travel on the Sunday should call Guy.
55005 model
Here is 55005, done for Garry Lane on behalf of 55022/Beaver by Alan Banks. Garry paid for the loco, which is a straight donation towards 22. Our thanks go to both Alan and Garry for their fantastic support.
Deltic Retro Scot
Bookings are now being taken for the Retrorailtours Deltic Retro Scot (Huddersfield to Edinburgh) tour on August 30th. More details on the Railtours page
Loco update
Update on loco is that the pre-heat system has now had revised coolant hoses and fittings installed and a slight amendment to the exhaust arrangement all carried out over the last few days.
Upon investigation of the fuel system on number 2 engine, a small metalic particle was found lodged in a valve above the fuel spider, leading to the increase in fuel pressure that has been causing problems. The 6 fuel pumps that had suffered blown O-Ring seals were all sent to Colchester Fuel Injection for inspection and repair on Tuesday and all delivered back to us, first thing on Thursday morning. We are extremely gratefull to Paul Goldsmith and all the team at Colchester Fuel injection for completeing this work at a moments notice and so efficiently.
Following some intermittent problems with the OTMR unit, as well as the original unit being repaired by Arrowvale Electronics, we now have a spare OTMR data recorder on the shelf, should the nead arise to fit a replacement unit. Thanks to GB Railfreight for their assistance with the spare unit and Mandy Sharpe for installing and configuring the new unit.
It was hoped to have some other work completed on the loco this week at Barrow Hill by contractors, this included repainting the ‘Royal Scots Grey’ nameplate and painting the new mid engine room preheat mounting brackets etc.They advised this would be completed, unfortunately and to our dismay, these jobs have not even been started, so will be completed at a later date by the usual regular team.
We hope to have all work completed this weekend and perform further load bank setting up on Monday, the loco should be in position to work the Stirling - Alloa shuttles for the SRPS next thursday. We will try and advise light engine movement times as soon as they become available.
No Oban for 55022
Unfortunately, following further technical problems today (Saturday) with the fuel pumps on no.2 engine & pipe work for the newly-installed pre-heating system, a decision was taken earlier that 55022 will not now power the North East Railtours’ excursion on Monday from Newcastle to Oban. Please accept our apologies that on this occasion Royal Scots Grey will not be available.
It is thought that a DRS Class 37 and WCRC 37248 will now be in charge for the tour. If anyone who hasn’t bought a ticket so far now wishes to travel please purchase a ticket from Sam Walker in coach L once on-board.
Thanks to all who helped to try and get the loco fit and sorry to anyone inconvenienced by this news at this late stage.
Sunday move North
Due to a few technical reasons with the loco, 55022 didn’t depart for Bo’ness on Friday but will instead travel north on Sunday. Departure from Barrow Hill is scheduled for 10am travelling via York and Newcastle.
Last chance for Oban
The Newcastle - Oban Railtour is nearly sold out, with only 9 nine tickets remaining. Anyone who still wishes to travel on the tour and hasn’t yet booked should contact Martin please as soon as possible on 07768 935 893
