The oldest surviving member of the 'Merchant Navy' Class, 35005 "Canadian Pacific, has reached a significant milestone in its current overhaul; the refurbished chassis has returned to the Watercress Line, the home of 35005.
A prolific performer on the mainline for a brief period, Ex-SR Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35005 "Canadian Pacific" suffered a burst boiler tube at Paddock Wood on the 19th of October 2002. Subsequent repairs caused the Bulleid pacific to be sidelined for over two years and confined to heritage railway use upon its return, becoming a resident of the Mid-Hants Railway 'Watercress Line'. The Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society purchased 35005 in 2006, from then owner and founder of Steam Dreams, Marcus Robertson. The boiler ticket finally expired in 2008. The pacific, affectionately referred to as 'Can Pac', was moved to Eastleigh works for storage in 2011, before a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid saw an overhaul begin in earnest.
The original plan had been to have 35005 steaming by the end of 2017. However, stripping the locomotive unearthed considerable problems, most notably that the boiler was in far worse condition than feared, due to excessive corrosion. This resulted in additional funding being necessary for work to progress, and the timescale growing significantly to compensate for the greater workload.
As such, this overhaul is the most extensive the locomotive has received in preservation. The boiler, being overhauled at Ropley on the MHR, is nearing completion. Work has included an all-new inner firebox; a preservation first for a 'Merchant Navy'. The arrival of the overhauled chassis back onto MHR metals serves as a major milestone in the eventual return to steam of 35005. The chassis would be on display at Alresford during the MHR's 'Spring Steam Gala', held over the weekend of April 26th-28th.
All footage filmed on Friday the 26th of April 2024.
25 апр 2024
