The Railway Magazine

F.A.O. Admin - I'm not sure if this is the best place for the following post, but you can always move it to somewhere that you may fell appropriate. Anyway, here goes........

There is a report in the latest issue - page 7, that as a result of tranforming the Duchess of Hamilton into a bright red bulbous pointy thing, "plans have emerged" to unrebuild a Merchant Navy. Apparently there are interested parties who, at this stage prefer to remain anonymous, and are looking at an unrestored "MN" or one that has had little restoration work done.

The "interested parties" have identified two possible candidates. Which ones, I wonder

Apart from the air-smooth casing, a new middle cyclinder will have to be manufactured, steam reverser installed, the untidy-looking Walschaerts gear dispensed with and the system of bicycle chain operated valve gear installed with possible modifications for improved maintenace.

It seems they have approached Eastleigh Works as a base for the work - very apt as the "MN" were originally built and then re-built there.

It is stated in the Railway Magazine that "support is mounting and those interested in becoming involved should send an initial email to bulleidproject@eatleigh100.com"

There is a photo of Port Line in as-built condition, with Golden Arrow regalia, and on the opposite page, there is picture of a strange blue pointy thing, with a number beginning with a "3". However the number consists of SIX digits, and the picture was submitted by one Alan Crotty!

I have heard of plans, for some years now, regarding an un - rebuilt Merchant Navy in the pipeline. This was restoring 35011 General Steam Navigation,

Whether anything happens of this, remains to be seen. IMHO, I dont think completion will happen in my lifetime, as 35011 is a complete wreck!

34017 Ilfracombe wrote:I have heard of plans, for some years now, regarding an un - rebuilt Merchant Navy in the pipeline. This was restoring 35011 General Steam Navigation,

Whether anything happens of this, remains to be seen. IMHO, I dont think completion will happen in my lifetime, as 35011 is a complete wreck!

What's more, Jeremy Hosking swiped its middle driving wheels for 34046 Braunton!

I think I'll send my posting as an email to "the usual suspects", and see what people's thought are.

I think I ought to correct the email address that I posted - I was thinking about my dinner at the time!!

Ive just found a pic of 35011 General Steam Navigation, un-rebuilt!

www.semgonline.com%2BBrighton%2BBelle%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enGB332GB332%26um%3D1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.semgonline.com/misc/pics/mm_devon-belle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.semgonline.com/misc/named_03.html&usg=__h7Fg-h9ehcOzfRomnatRLFDSzPU=&h=310&w=450&sz=39&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=rXOBrnf-B8Fd4M:&tbnh=87&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite:www.semgonline.com%2BBrighton%2BBelle%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enGB332GB332%26um%3D1

I thought I would post the picture, rather than the link.

It would certainly be great to see General Steam Navigation in unrebuilt form. There would be alot of work though! Does anyone have a link to the website and do the parties have the plans for this? Be great to see the tender done to the old design as well!

Admin wrote:

I thought I would post the picture, rather than the link.

It would certainly be great to see General Steam Navigation in unrebuilt form. There would be alot of work though! Does anyone have a link to the website and do the parties have the plans for this? Be great to see the tender done to the old design as well!

I would imagine it'll be something to do with "eastleigh100", as that was the email addy to be used for initial emails.

Leaving work now - the weekend begins now!!

34017 Ilfracombe wrote:I have heard of plans, for some years now, regarding an un - rebuilt Merchant Navy in the pipeline. This was restoring 35011 General Steam Navigation,

Whether anything happens of this, remains to be seen. IMHO, I dont think completion will happen in my lifetime, as 35011 is a complete wreck!

Mind you thinking about this - If they have the plans on paper and the funds and if it is Knights Rail Services doing the work, then maybe they can get this done very quickly?? You only have to look at Ian Riley and his team of Riley and Sons to see and know that this is possible to turn around very quickly??