76084 Locomotive Profile DVD

Just heard from the Production Department that the 76084 - Locomotive Profile DVD will be with me Monday or Tuesday at the latest next week.

It runs for a staggering 2 hours and has footage going back to Woodham's through some of the milestone moments of restoration (thanks Roger Norris and Mel Rutter) to her return to traffic and sojourns on 3 heritage railways with shots of the Travelling Post Office drop/pickup on the GCR and, of course, the recent 60 mph speed runs.

We will have sufficient stock to meet the pre-orders from the Annual General Meeting and a good few more besides.Buy online now and it will be posted to you next week. A little pre-Christmas treat. The DVD will be advertised in the railway press and on sale in the North Norfolk Railway Shop(s).

At £15 + £1.49 post and packing it will make a great addition to any rail enthusiasts' collection.

Each sale will bring in a little more funding for our Go Mainline Appeal

I can't wait to view it!!

76084's Major 'First'

Whilst 76084 clocked up a number of 'firsts' on the Great Central Railway in October (see separate article) the chief amongst them must be clocking 61 mph.

When 76084's Mark 2A BR tender was restored we had the wheel bearings examined by an engineer who put a question mark over their high speed capabilities but passed them for heritage railway speeds of 25 mph. 

Thinking back Phil Rollin was fortunate that 76084 remained coupled to her original tender throughout her 14 year 4 month stay at Dai Woodham's scrapyard. But such a long period of inactivity in salt-laden air from the sea must have taken its toll on mechanical parts.

The question of the tender bearings suitability for high speed running, especially with our ambition of going mainline, had to be answered. Where better to put the bearings to the test than on the GCR.

So, after advice from the GCR management, 76084 was turned to run facing north on the better 'down main' on the morning of 20 October 2014. The tender was full of coal and water and a 5 coach consist coupled up. Speed on the 'up main' were limited to 45 mph but 76084 performed 4 runs on the 'down' where maximum speeds recorded were 58, 60, 60 and 61 mph respectively.

And how did the bearings stand up to this treatment? With no problems at all. They reached an acceptable operating temperature and stayed there.

There is a video on YouTube that complements this article.

The mainline beckons in 2015

Help us get there by sponsoring parts of the safety systems here.

57 mph through Quorn & Woodhouse