E850 - Lord Nelson

Maunsell LN Class 4-6-0 No. E850

Latest News

• Lord Nelson has had its rear driving wheelset removed for examination along with an inspection of its piston and valves, click the links for further information from the Mid Hants website.

Wheelset

850 in the wheeldrop shed

• Lord Nelson's appearance at the Mid Hants gala was unfortunately blighted by the loco being withdrawn early on Sunday afternoon. Running on the Friday and Saturday of the gala, the loco appeared to be running well but on its first trip from Ropley to Medstead the loco seemed to have a loss of power and after careful consideration by the footplate crew, Lord Nelson and Bittern swapped trains so 850 could return the Ropley for further inspection. After inspection the loco was sent Alresford for a test run back up to Ropley, doubling heading with Tornado. However the problem persisted so as a precaution Lord Nelson was withdrawn from service. It is thought that a piston and valve exam will take place to try and discover what caused this problem. Further information will be posted in due course.

• PRESS STATEMENT - LORD NELSON

At a meeting held at the Mid Hants Railway on 2^nd February between the National Railway Museum, Mid Hants Railway and Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society the partners agreed the next stages in the project to bring Lord Nelson back into main line operation.

The Vehicle Acceptance Body has inspected the repairs carried out to the locomotive at the Mid Hants Railway and has agreed that, subject to completion of the agreed programme of further work, a main line test run may be carried out without lifting the boiler, as originally requested.

The required repairs will be carried out at the Mid Hants Railway and further running in and testing will take place there. Subject to this and in line with Mid Hants operating requirements, we anticipate a main line test run in July 2010. If the test run proves successful the locomotive will be certified for main line operation during the summer and an operating programme will then be agreed by the partners in association with promoters and train operators.

National Railway Museum, York.

5th March 2010

• Lord Nelson will be appearing the the Mid Hants Railway Spring Gala this weekend along with the railway's resident loco's and new A1 locomotive, "Tornado". The gala is a 3 day event and early reports suggest that it will be a busy occasion with trains being double headed, named train specials running and also a demonstration freight train being thrown in as well. For further information click the following link which has all the gala details direct from the Mid Hants website.

ERPS will have their own sales stand there offering various goodies, including the DVD's produced by ERPS's very own Brian Southon, these coming highly recommended and any sales generated will go towards the restoration of ERPS's resident S15 locomotive E828 "Harry.A.Frith", currently being restored in the yard at Ropley.

"The Great Spring Steam Gala 5-7 March 2010"

• Lord Nelson is currently having its brake gear refurbished after an issue became apparent at the MHR autumn gala, for pictures of the progress please click "HERE".

12th November 2009

• Lord Nelsons appearance at the Eastleigh 100 Celebrations was deemed a major success and on return to Ropley, 850 has been recently been withdrawn from service to have its yearly boiler examinations carried out. It is hoped that Lord Nelson will return to traffic in the next few weeks.

3rd July 2009

• Saturday 16th May 2009 will see Lord Nelson haul 2 round trips of the Watercress Line, the 1st trip departing around 18:15pm from Alresford with this trip has been arranged between ERPS and the Watercress Line for ERPS members only. ERPS membership cards must be shown and confirmed before boarding the train and members are entitled to bring along one guest. Members wishing to travel on these trains must contact the membership secretary Derek Doling to register their interest and confirm the booking. Thanks must go to the MHR for their co-operation in running these trains.

3rd May 2009

• 850 Lord Nelsons support coach, E35317, has arrived at Alresford after being in storage in Norfolk. There is a possibility that E35317 will remain at Alresford until after the Mid Hants' Day out with Thomas event where it will then move to Ropley.

• Lord Nelson successfully participated in the 3 day Mid Hants Railway gala over 13th, 14th & 15th March. No problems were reported with the loco and if anyone has any photos with Lord Nelson in, then please contact the membership secretary to obtain his email address so he can receive them.

18th March 2009

• Lord Nelson successfully arrived at Alresford on the morning of Thursday 12th February. Once connected to its tender it was then hauled to Ropley for further inspection. Over the weekend 14th/15th February work commenced on the loco in readiness for use on passenger services. For further information of when Lord Nelson will be in action at the Watercress Line please click "Here".

16th February 2009

• Lord Nelson's long awaited return to the south of England has finally been announced. It is planned that 850 will arrive at the Mid Hants Railway on Thursday 12th February 2009. Depending on maintenance checks the MHR hope to have Lord Nelson in service the following weekend, 21st & 22nd February. Further information will be announced in due course.

• Lord Nelson was due to return to the mainline on 29th November 2008 with a return run from Carnforth to Scarborough. The loco required minor running repairs which were successfully completed by West Coast employees on Friday 28th November around lunchtime, however a call from Network Rail to West Coast Railways at 5pm informed them that Lord Nelson was now "out of gauge" and therefore not cleared to take the train. Staff and volunteers at Carnforth managed to turn out 46115 "Scots Guardsman" as Lord Nelsons replacement. Further details will follow in due course.

"The National Railway Museum and Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society are now in discussions with the Mid Hants Railway with a view to forming a new operating agreement for Lord Nelson, which will see the locomotive housed on the Mid Hants Railway and operated jointly by the partners. This will enable the operation of the locomotive both on the Watercress Line and on the main line railways thus fulfilling the requirements of the NRM and of the Heritage Lottery Fund, who supported the overhaul of the locomotive on the basis that it would be available for the enjoyment of the broadest possible audience in the South of England, on lines for which the locomotive was originally built."

• After successful firebox and boiler repairs, Lord Nelson has had a consistent period of running in on the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire where minor problems have been found but have been rectified. Lord Nelson is due to move to Carnforth in the coming days in readiness for a return to the mainline on 29th November 2008 where it is due to haul a special excursion from Carnforth to Scarborough and return, timings for this run are yet to be finalised.