Recent Failures and Successes

Firstly 50049: Well done to the guys of the Class 50 Alliance for repairing and returning Defiance to operation so quickly after her failure on the Pompey-Vectis Explorer. She developed a water leak from a fracture in the coolant pipework and had to be relieved by 47853 (from Acton). A week later she suffered with over heating on the charity do round Bristol but a good radiator clean up seems to have cured the problems and she is now out and about again (to Paignton and shuttles around Melton Mobray). I saw ’49 at Tyseley in the rain on Saturday and spoke to one of her support staff, who was busy removing an unofficial Tyseley shed sticker. He reported that there was still work to do but that they are generally satisfied with her current state.
37906: Since reporting the theft of parts, spares have been located from both inside the UK and elsewhere and she has been undertaking work on the SVR. Well done to all involved too.
On the down side the Severn Valley Railway has been breached, and parts of its tracks washed away by the recent heavy rains. An appeal has been launched: click here. Please support it.