Hello to all my friends in the USA. Just to keep you updated on the 2 S160s we are the custodians of. Firstly the Baldwin loco 6046 has been on loan the Neen Valley railway and has performed excellently,its very popular down there. Hopefully when it comes back the owner is going to try to get a mainline ticket for it, fingers crossed. The other one the Lima 5197 is well on its way, the wheels and chasis are together and the axle boxes machined, the boiler is having the new stays put in and other parts are around the shed being worked on. The tender is being worked on seen a lot of welding being done. It has an outside chance of being ready for our steam gala at the end of February, but if it doesn't it will be running in Summer. Hopefully both engines will be running together sometime this year, to see them perhaps doubleheading up the line to Ipstones with gradients up to 1in 40. We have also got working a Polish TKh loco based on the American Dock shunters that were imported as part of the war effort.
The 10 year boiler of 5197 overhaul is gathering pace now. Hopefully it will be in steam ready for our steam gala on the Churnet Valley in February. So with 6046 being worked on we could see a double headed train of 2 S160s going up 4.5 mile gradient of between 1 in 40 to 1 in 59, the longest section of about is 1 in 45 for2.5 miles. All our volunteers are looking forward to seeing them hard at work
Welcome back Sam! We missed you buddy, and your updates from "across the pond."
Good news, This weekend S160 6064 is running in the steam gala after all the repairs have been done. It can be seen on the Churnet Valley Webcams Sat and Sun. but dont forget the time difference over the pond.Will be travelling behind her on Sunday, Happy viewing. The other S160 5197 is almost ready for its steam test so hopefully will see that return to steam this Summer
Good to hear from you Sam! I went to the Churnet Valley website and saw you've got a Sci-Fi weekend coming up.
Lady Firestorm says say "hello" to "The Doctor" for us, especially if he's a Jon Pertwee (the BEST Doctor!) look-alike!
The photo on the top of the Churnet Valley website is of 6064 being run in after it's repairs. There are several Doctors represented. as well as Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker with his long scarf is another favourite. Its got more photos on the site of the S160s.
Visitors to Great Britain (England in particular) in 2017 might be interested to know that the Dartmouth Steam Railway hopes to be running an S160 during the summer. More details will be available nearer the time. The DSR is quite different to most Heritage railways in the UK. It not also has a fleet of ships and another of buses. Of particular note to those interested in ships is that the company operates a paddle steamer - the only one in the UK that is truly a steamer - other survivors are diesel powered.
http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
The 2 day steam gala has started today incuding the S160 6046 plus the GWR plus the gwr Taffy tankengine and a Polish lookalike of The American Dock Tank that were used during and after the war by BR. You can see these on the 9 webcams on the Churnet Valley webpage.The only one that will not have trains running past is Leek Brook west which at present is used as a stock siding. So good viewing Railfans. P. S.Click on the bue writing above to enlarge the image plus Leek Brook south has a zoom.
The S160 sounded great at the gala with some good videos on youtube, look for Churnet Valley Railway, Winter Steam Gala 2016 and the sound going up the gradient to Ipstones was brilliant. Enjoy.
Out of interest did anyone on here actually watch the webcams during the gala? Is it worth me posting on here and is there any interest? There will be a time later this year where both S160s will be running double headed working up the steep gradient, do you want me to post when it hapens.
Sam, I've been following your posts with interest, but I can understand your frustration in not hearing from anyone else.
Come on people, if you enjoy hearing from Sam simple politeness should generate a response from you.
Sam, I've been enjoying your postings. It is good to see so many S160s out on the road today considering their austerity syle construction and the inevitable compromises that brought.
Unfortunately, this forum has had a decline in participation recently.
I would like to see double headed S160s!
Thank you both for your replys my real name is Jeff. I used Samoht as it is my second name spelt backwards. was not sure at the time wether my posts would be accepted from England. I came to the States with my job for 4.5 years and loved all your locos both steam and diesel, even joined your NHRS. Could not believe that when I retired and joined the CVR that one of directors bought a S160 in running order then a second one that was basically a kit of parts. They have never run together but the plan is they will this year, cannot wait.
Great video of S160 6046 with a volunteers day on a wartime freight on youtube. Search for Churnet Valley Volunteer Days with Wartime Freight. Enjoy
Thanks Jeff, that should be interesting to see!
samoht Great video of S160 6046 with a volunteers day on a wartime freight on youtube. Search for Churnet Valley Volunteer Days with Wartime Freight. Enjoy
Fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qExrD1CX39E
Also good to see so many well preserved wagons-freight cars have traditionally been neglected in preservation, at least in the US.
Rikers YardI don't get a chance to watch the web cams much, but it's good to here about the S160's, they tend to be ignored here. There are a number of engines being restored, or recently restored like 611, that draw a lot of the attention away from "ordinary" engines.
S160 5197 has had its first fire in today after its retubeing, on schedule for running at the end of the year. Looking forward to seeing the S160S double heading up the Ipstone branch.
Thanks for the update Jeff!
Even better news today, the boiler of 5197 passed its boiler inspection today. Hopefully on course for late summer running in.
Just an update, S160 6046 is on holiday and running well at the North Yorkshire Railway for the summer season. It always has a CVR man on the footplate. S160 5197s boiler was reunited with its chassis on Thursday, so its full steam ahead to get it running for next year.
Always good to hear from you Jeff, glad you're thinking about us over here.
Listen, on the "Wartime Freight" video, what kind of military equipment was the train hauling? I'm sure I recognized the larger of the two cannon as a 25 Pounder, which I know the RA boys swore by, but what's the smaller cannon and those two armored cars? They look like "Saladins" but for a military history fan I have to admit my knowledge of British equipment (aside from small arms) is a bit sparse.
You might laugh at this but that lovely countryside the trains pass through looks remarkably like Northwestern New Jersey or the Bucks County area of Pennsylvania here in the US. Made me a little homesick for New Jersey.
Sorry posted twice
Firelock76 Always good to hear from you Jeff, glad you're thinking about us over here. Listen, on the "Wartime Freight" video, what kind of military equipment was the train hauling? I'm sure I recognized the larger of the two cannon as a 25 Pounder, which I know the RA boys swore by, but what's the smaller cannon and those two armored cars? They look like "Saladins" but for a military history fan I have to admit my knowledge of British equipment (aside from small arms) is a bit sparse. You might laugh at this but that lovely countryside the trains pass through looks remarkably like Northwestern New Jersey or the Bucks County area of Pennsylvania here in the US. Made me a little homesick for New Jersey.
Thanks for the response, Jeff! Listen, those Ferret armored cars, do they still go? Looks like they'd be an absolute blast to take for a ride in the country! Probably as much as the train ride. Definately attention getters.
Wayne
Just the latest from the Churnet Valley Railway . S160 6046 is away until New Year running Santa Specials. S160 5197 has now recieved its boiler cladding and is in the process of all the remaining pipework being fitted. It should be up and running for our Santa Trains. The New Year brings with hopefully, both S160s running together up the Ipstone Line with includes gradient up to 1 in 40. Plus a loco Based on the BR Class USA that were built in the USA for the war effort Really looking forward to seeing them all together.
That's great news! We'll be hoping for a video!
Looking forward to another video myself, those steam locos in that lovely English countryside, can't beat it!
samoht Just an update, S160 6046 is on holiday and running well at the North Yorkshire Railway for the summer season. It always has a CVR man on the footplate. S160 5197s boiler was reunited with its chassis on Thursday, so its full steam ahead to get it running for next year.
Speaking of the NYMR (line dates to 1835), they'll be running several Santa Specials in December, such as below from Whitby. This weekend is their autumn Welsh Steam gala, featuring 10 operating locos:
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.