Merlin's comeback

[Warbonnet]

Just spotted this on Youtube. Must say I can't wait to see her on the mainline. Getting ever closer!

 

[Glenderg]

That is bloody glorious, thanks for posting fran! So jealous of those guys with their 12" to the foot scale model railway ... R.

[BabyGM]

That's fantastic, any idea how much more work needs to be done and the status of 171

[Weshty]

Don't worry Richie, there's an SSM V Class kit if you want your own!

 

I will definitely do the required cross-country Odyssey to see this baby in action.

[BosKonay]

Wow!!

[Kirley]

Great video, lovely to see her in steam.

[Warbonnet]

That's fantastic' date=' any idea how much more work needs to be done and the status of 171[/quote']

 

No idea but a new paint job at least. Looks like the hard bit is done though, test runs and fettling required too.

[jhb171achill]

171 will require a considerably greater amount of work, and lots of money. It is planned to have her out again, but it will be some years before it happens.

[heirflick]

great to see Merlin again..a beautiful and graceful lady! john, whats the story with 186 -is she near due a full overhall yet?

[BosKonay]

Spotted 186 on Saturday in Connolly Sidings, tucked behind a 3 car 29k

[snapper]

great to see Merlin again..a beautiful and graceful lady! john, whats the story with 186 -is she near due a full overhall yet?

 

I think 186 will be coming up on her 10 year in 2014

[snapper]

Spotted 186 on Saturday in Connolly Sidings, tucked behind a 3 car 29k

 

186 and a set of cravens will be doing two return trips from Connolly to Maynooth on the 21st.

[Lough Erne]

From memory, as JB says 171 requires major surgery and is a while off yet from turning a wheel in anger. As regards 186 her boiler certificate expires at the end of this year and is unlikely to be renewed for a considerable period of time, so if you want a final steam fix from 186 I would recommend travelling behind her in the near future!.

[irishrail123]

great to see Merlin again..a beautiful and graceful lady! john, whats the story with 186 -is she near due a full overhall yet?

 

I think her cert is expired at the end of this year.

[jhb171achill]

Yes - it will be 461 & 85 before too long. 186 is a great oul girl though.

[heirflick]

Yes - 186 is a great oul girl though.

 

and a good looking one!

[Railer]

Anyone know how long 4 will be out for? Last I saw of it it's smoke box and boiler was removed from the frame. Being the youngest steamer it shouldn't need too much work? Any more news of a sister, number 58 being built in co-operation with a UK firm that is doing research into the project.

[Mayner]

Anyone know how long 4 will be out for? Last I saw of it it's smoke box and boiler was removed from the frame. Being the youngest steamer it shouldn't need too much work? Any more news of a sister, number 58 being built in co-operation with a UK firm that is doing research into the project.

 

There was a piece in 5'3" that its not expected to have No 4 out of service for long basically a boiler inspection and re-tube, she received a new firebox in the 1990s and had heavy mechanical work at her last overhaul.

 

Interestingly 131 may be the next big restoration project rather than 171 as the RPSI have plate in stock for a new firebox.

 

Hopefully a place can be found for at least a cosmetic restoration of 27 & 184 in the new museum.

[snapper]

You know guys if you want to see more things running more help is always welcome. All you need is membership, steel toed boots and come clothes / overalls you don’t ever want to see clean again . I am sure the DCDR / ITG have similar requirements.

[jhb171achill]

Totally right, Snapper; both organisations have working parties at Downpatrick every weekend, and ITG guys also operate in Carrick-o-S. More new bodies would be very welcome at both places. In the case of Downpatrick, you've the choice of two preservation groups on the same site!

[Lough Erne]

@Railer, the age of the engine unfortunately means very little in terms of overhaul it all depends on how they were treated prior to withdrawal and during preservation. 27 for instance is the youngest engine though is probably in the worst condition overall. No 4 had a major overhaul in the 90s as mayner said where the majority of the firebox was replaced. However I would estimate that 4 will be back within 18 months (not gospel by any means) as she is OK mechanically and will (fingers crossed) need very little done to the boiler. It is interesting to note when discussing the locos that 4, 85, 461 and 3 have all had major firebox surgery since being withdrawn. Using this as a guide, 171 will probably need major firebox surgery (very expensive as I'm sure JB will confirm) and 186 (if she steams again). However 131 has not steamed since 1963 ish and her boiler and firebox are effectively scrap. Therefore 171 and 131 are both very much long term and will need vast sums of money and time.

[heirflick]

 

is there a possibility that 186 will not return to steam when her cert expires?

[jhb171achill]

I'd say she will, Heirflick. However, she spent a long period sidelined in the 90s when 461, 171, 4 and 85 were all bumbling about - at any one time, three of the four of them anyway. She is very useful in many ways, especially things like Santas, and crews are familiar with her, but main line speed especially tender first is a problem on things like long distance day trips and the May tour. There is much to be done with other engines, so she might be out for a while. 184, on the other hand, may not see steaming again - at any rate, for a very long time, as she requires little short of a total rebuild. In relation to 171 and 131, the cost of restoration of either - and in the case of 131, fabrication of many many missing parts - is astronomical. Work will proceed as funds and time permit, but as mentioned by others they will both be long term as a result.

 

As a general rule nowadays, given patterns of usage and the logistics of maintenance, repair and restoration, any steam engine can be considered to be in traffic for 6 to 7 years out of every ten. After each ten year period, even if they are currently in traffic, very major 10-year exams are required for insurance and health and safety purposes. This type of exam requires a boiler lift at least; itself producing a bill for the finance officer of the day to mull over. This applies to anything steam that the RPSI has, north or south, main line or Whitehead site; also anything on the DCDR.

[heirflick]

thanks john, i will have to get a trip on her before she goes into dry dock...meanwhile i always look at this clip of her at full pelt up north - this is steaming at its best!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz12lrOzIcY&feature=player_embedded

[jhb171achill]

Most certainly is!!! More on the May Tour!

[Lough Erne]

The future of 186 in the short term depends on lots of things, however it is probably a safe bet to say there wont be anything done to her in the next 5-10 years at least as there are 4-4-0's to be concentrated on, not to mention running repairs. However it is hard to believe that 171 has been out of traffic now for 11 years (to date).

[snapper]

Some more info has been posted here,

 

http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/photonews/85/02/

[mp171]

Doubtful if 186 will be back in traffic, there is no doubting that it is a fantastic loco , totally reliable and extremely popular with everybody but it is difficult to get realistic paths for it unlike 85 , 171 and 4 which were built as express locos .A case in point was 2012 May tour when it ran light engine from Ballybrophy 90 mins after the tour due to no path being available as it was underpowered to maintain the path provided.