Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society (MNLPS) News & Updates

Hello everyone, I have just seen a news article stating that 35025 Brocklebank Line has been purchased by the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society, owners of 35028 Clan Line. I couldn't find a thread dedicated to the society and Clan Line, so with this announcement I've decided to make one for all things 35025, 35028 and any other news and updated around the society, as well as tours etc. that their locos are working on.

The article states that "35025 will not be used as a source of spares", and that "Clan Line will remin the priority", with 35028 likely to receive 35025's boiler once Clan Line is due for overhaul. The article also states that 35025 is a long-term project, but will be overhauled for the mainline.

New owner announced for steam locomotive 35025 Brocklebank Line https://share.google/cnO9cav7E2hIZlXJM

Honestly probably a good move for all involved. I think SLL have enough on their plate as it is, not only restoring a couple of locos from scrapyard condition but also having to manage overhauls to keep revenue coming in. MNLPS will benefit from the spare boiler in the short term, keeping downtime for Clan Line to a minimum and therefore keeping earning. Then in the long term can maybe have a 2nd locomotive.

How long has 35028 got left on its ticket?

short term a boiler swop in time for when the ticket runs out, and longer term, overhaul 35025, so that by the time 35028s mainline ticket is up, at 7 years, 35025, is fully overhauled and can slot in, in its place,

Then if the society wishes, it can visit preserved railways, in the last 3 years of its ticket, also 35025, if its ready before 35028 come off the main line could also spend a year out on loan, and being trialed on some lines that can test locos up to 60 mph, such as the SVR,

martin butler said:

How long has 35028 got left on its ticket?

short term a boiler swop in time for when the ticket runs out, and longer term, overhaul 35025, so that by the time 35028s mainline ticket is up, at 7 years, 35025, is fully overhauled and can slot in, in its place,

Then if the society wishes, it can visit preserved railways, in the last 3 years of its ticket, also 35025, if its ready before 35028 come off the main line could also spend a year out on loan, and being trialed on some lines that can test locos up to 60 mph, such as the SVR,

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The Mainline Steam Locomotives thread says that 35028 returned from overhaul in 2024, which gives her 5 years left for Mainline use until 2031, if it works until the end of the ticket

It is good news indeed for 35025. I have some pictures of it being slowly restored at the GCR (2004) and it has been a convoluted path ever since!

35025, though will need stripping back down, to check the standard of work done, and there was a lot of parts stolen whilst at the GCR, that might not have been replaced yet, so Does the MNLPS have space at Stewarts lane for a stripped down loco? or to rebuild it there, ideally if they can share space at Selinge, to work on the frames etc, without it impacting on their day-to-day work on Clan line, until the chassis is complete, then transfer the overhauled frames to a railway workshop ideally in the South, where their members are, and the boiler is being overhauled, to finish the loco, test it and carry out main line testing , ideal location would be either Herston works, or Ropley, especially if the boiler were to be overhauled there in the boiler shop