45015 being scrapped finally.

[FOCTOC]

It is indeed. I might have to start work on some memes to get ahead on the Preserved Diesels facebook page.

No, you really need not bother. That kind of nonsense ceased to be 'funny' years ago.

 

[fgwrich]

No, you really need not bother. That kind of nonsense ceased to be 'funny' years ago.

I cannot agree more. Enough of those posts, and the 45015 posts. The sooner those memes are confined to the bin the better.

 

[Alanko]

No, you really need not bother. That kind of nonsense ceased to be 'funny' years ago.

The equivalent joke on aviation forums was always 'will it be at Legends'. Usually posted when an aircraft was discovered at the bottom of a Fjord or pieces no bigger than a postage stamp were dug up at a wreck site.

The joke implied that the aircraft would be fully restored and appear at Flying Legends at some point, no matter how unfeasible the recovery or restoration. It also took a swipe at 'data plate' rebuilds where a 99% new aircraft was built around a couple of untangled parts taken from a wreck, somehow inheriting the identity of the wreck during the proceedings.

Such jokes almost become self-referential, or at least carry a heap of implied meaning behind simple, well worn prose. 45015 jokes fall squarely in this camp!

 

[Spaceship323]

Steam locos tend to be of a simpler, heavier duty construction than diesels, if you have a set of frames and wheels in good nick you're off to a good start.

Good news for 9F 92219 then, should be a doddle to get that back on the mainline.

 

[D365]

There's a 315 going to Wales !

Are you sure?

 

[WAO]

Didn't the Ffestiniog (re)build No 7 "Taliesin" around a surviving reversing lever?

WAO

 

[A0]

There's a 315 going to Wales !

Are you sure?

Sims Newport presumably?

 

[crosscity]

Judging by photos retrieved via Google, 45015 started out with split headcode boxes, with a clearly defined pair of doors in between them. At some point both the boxes and doors were removed. As such, this interesting feature was gone by the time the loco made it into 'preservation', so to speak. The only other option I can think of is that only one end of the loco has been routinely photographed as it currently exists, so the doors might languish at the other end?

I took this photo in 1975, and had a discussion on Facebook about which Peak this is, the consensus - 45015. There is also another photo on Flickr from Aug 75 where the number is clearly identified and that too has the long centre headcode panel.

Wed 12 Feb 1975 at 12:45. A Peak Class 45 arrives at Exeter Riverside with [1V67] the 06:43 Leeds-Paignton. After a conversation on Facebook Group 'South Devon Diesels' the consensus is that this is 45015. (Photo taken from the brake van of [7V76] the 04:55 Salisbury-Meldon Quarry empties with Brush Class 47 No 47217 at the helm. Previously D14, D1867. by Ray, on Flickr

 

[Cowley]

I took this photo in 1975, and had a discussion on Facebook about which Peak this is, the consensus - 45015. There is also another photo on Flickr from Aug 75 where the number is clearly identified and that too has the long centre headcode panel.

Wed 12 Feb 1975 at 12:45. A Peak Class 45 arrives at Exeter Riverside with [1V67] the 06:43 Leeds-Paignton. After a conversation on Facebook Group 'South Devon Diesels' the consensus is that this is 45015. (Photo taken from the brake van of [7V76] the 04:55 Salisbury-Meldon Quarry empties with Brush Class 47 No 47217 at the helm. Previously D14, D1867. by Ray, on Flickr

What a photo. I can almost see my house!

 

[Ash Bridge]

That would be one of the same electricity pylons that remain to this day at this location would it not Mr. C?
And don’t you just love those telegraph poles!

 

[Cowley]

That would be one of the same electricity pylons that remain to this day at this location would it not Mr. C?
And don’t you just love those telegraph poles!

Yes I’d say you’re right Mr Bridge.
Actually apart from the telegraph poles and the traction the view from the angle hasn’t changed a huge amount.

 

[357]

Sims Newport presumably?

Check thread on "315 preservation society"

 

[A0]

Check thread on "315 preservation society"

I was being saracastic. I know there is an aspiration to take one to an obscure railway in South Wales.

 

[crosscity]

What a photo. I can almost see my house!

That would be one of the same electricity pylons that remain to this day at this location would it not Mr. C?
And don’t you just love those telegraph poles!

Is this a joke? Cowley and Bridge talking about my photo at Cowley Bridge!

 

[Cowley]

Is this a joke? Cowley and Bridge talking about my photo at Cowley Bridge!

 

[fgwrich]

Is this a joke? Cowley and Bridge talking about my photo at Cowley Bridge!

Love it!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Well spotted @crosscity! - perhaps I’m a bit dim as I don’t think I’d ever have noticed that

 

[70014IronDuke]

I think they’d have been plated over fairly early on, pretty sure they were plated over by the early 1970s. If anyone could confirm this though it’d be much appreciated.
Another thing I’ve been wondering about though which is also related to the nose end doors is, were the 45s actually fitted with Blue Star multiple working equipment?
I always thought that when they worked in pairs on the Midland Main Line they needed two drivers for each loco?
Perhaps someone knowledgeable on these things like @70014IronDuke would know..?

Oh, just seen this. As I remember, no 45s (or 46s) were built with end doors. And yes, again as I recall, they always needed two drivers if one was added as a pilot. In any case, there was never any need from a traffic/timing point of view for multiple working of 45s, at least not on the MML (not sure about heavy freight turns, eg on the Lickey, in later years).

There were one or two regular MML trains that had 2 x 45s over the various years, but this was either for test purposes (eg Derby to Leicester and back after coming off works) or purely for returning locos to locations/depots to save a light engine movement. In any case, the latter were quite rare, IMX.

 

[Neptune]

Oh, just seen this. As I remember, no 45s (or 46s) were built with end doors. And yes, again as I recall, they always needed two drivers if one was added as a pilot. In any case, there was never any need from a traffic/timing point of view for multiple working of 45s, at least not on the MML (not sure about heavy freight turns, eg on the Lickey, in later years).

There were one or two regular MML trains that had 2 x 45s over the various years, but this was either for test purposes (eg Derby to Leicester and back after coming off works) or purely for returning locos to locations/depots to save a light engine movement. In any case, the latter were quite rare, IMX.

The very earliest 45’s had end doors but these were later sealed up.

 

[70014IronDuke]

The very earliest 45’s had end doors but these were later sealed up.

Oh, ok. thanks for the correction.

In that case, I must have seen them - I saw D11 on what must have been one of, if not the, very first loaded test runs. But I was only 8.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

The very earliest 45’s had end doors but these were later sealed up.

Not sealed up as such but the front ends were rebuilt to the final spec of a single 4 digit centre Headcode panel. The ones that had the doors never appeared with split Headcodes boxes and no doors

 

[47827]

RE 45015 - as per most people I think the sensible outcome has finally been reached.

Whilst any significant part of the structure of such a loco still exists then its possible, albeit probably a cost greater than some brand new locomotives in this case, to essentially rebuild (albeit probably classed as a major overhaul) the mess that's left over into its former self. It would require a massive amount of bespoke parts to be ordered and machined though (potentially some overseas with big price tags and long lead times) or the sacrifice of another (potentially much better) locomotive than the one being restored. So a Euro millions winner into peaks would perhaps have considered it for a laugh. Would imagine it would take years to complete the project too as per the steam locos built from scratch or rebuilt from scrappers.

On smaller scale a few mk1s in even worse condition than 45015 (have seen the before and after on a few) were rebuilt over the last decade or so at 6 figure costs to provide more kitchen cars and first class vehicles for mainline railtours. Although these were simpler projects hence not into 7 figures and completed in a fraction of the time rebuilding a complete wreck of a diesel would be. There have been a few 37/4s that weren't as bad as this peak that DRS probably should have thought twice about too but taking parts off withdrawn runners and spending a few million and you had something kicked out almost as good as new. Essentially a rebuild project of this scale, were anyone ever to be soft enough to try it, would be essentially almost like building Tornado from scratch.

 

[alexl92]

Well… As sure as night follows day… The latest edition of heritage railway magazine includes a brief report that somebody has now started a campaign to preserve 45015. They are appealing for support from anyone else he wants to get involved. You have to admire the optimism, but surely if it was going to happen, it would have happened already given its ’celebrity’ status

 

[Cowley]

Well… As sure as night follows day… The latest edition of heritage railway magazine includes a brief report that somebody has now started a campaign to preserve 45015. They are appealing for support from anyone else he wants to get involved. You have to admire the optimism, but surely if it was going to happen, it would have happened already given its ’celebrity’ status

I think they’re going to struggle with this one!

 

[Richard Scott]

I think they’re going to struggle with this one!

Notwithstanding the fact it's missing lots of essential parts. Needs a whole electrical cubicle and unless someone is able to use modern components and design a new cubicle it won't happen. In reality this is highly unlikely.

 

[Cowley]

Notwithstanding the fact it's missing lots of essential parts. Needs a whole electrical cubicle and unless someone is able to use modern components and design a new cubicle it won't happen. In reality this is highly unlikely.

Time to let this one go. There’s plenty of Peaks out there (as you know) that are more worthy of money, time and energy.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Posts 1& 2 on this thread suggested cutting was already taking place,is that not the case??
Could always re-equip it, 49001 anyone? Er, I'll get my coat.......

 

[Cowley]

Posts 1& 2 on this thread suggested cutting was already taking place,is that not the case??
Could always re-equip it, 49001 anyone? Er, I'll get my coat.......

I think it was a case of flame cutting the number panels off and then settling to work on the actual loco in the new year?

 

[D365]

Is 45015's husk in any fit state to be preserved? Even as a cautionary tale?

 

[D6968]

Well… As sure as night follows day… The latest edition of heritage railway magazine includes a brief report that somebody has now started a campaign to preserve 45015. They are appealing for support from anyone else he wants to get involved. You have to admire the optimism, but surely if it was going to happen, it would have happened already given its ’celebrity’ status

That somebody wouldn’t be based in the West Country and have a track record of how do I put this, starting things and not finishing them? I’m thinking of a certain J39 project amongst others.