Active Mainline Steam Locomotives

[kje7812]

I was under the impression boiler tickets were issued for fixed periods, 7 years for mainline operations and 10 years for heritage lines, and that these are absolute limits that cannot be extended or reset. After expiry only a new or completely reconditioned boiler would qualify for a new certificate.

Definitely not the case. Extensions are quite common for heritage railways use.
The '10 year ticket' rule is a myth. It's a series of annual inspections. After 7 years, these become stricter and after 10 even more so. By 10 years, not only is the boiler likely to be needing work but so is the mechanical side of things.

 

[SECR 65]

I was under the impression boiler tickets were issued for fixed periods, 7 years for mainline operations and 10 years for heritage lines, and that these are absolute limits that cannot be extended or reset. After expiry only a new or completely reconditioned boiler would qualify for a new certificate.

It really depends on the engine. Taking a few Bluebell examples:
Locos like S15 847 and Q 541 lasted in the region of 8 years before being too broken to carry on. This is common for large, core fleet engines which are worked hard.
5MT 73082 worked for 6 years, before requiring work, so went straight into the works for some boiler attention, and came out with a fresh 10 year ticket. It wasn't a full overhaul.
P 178 got ticket extentions as it was lightly used, so worked around 11 years.

 

[HertiageFan]

Sorry for the misinformation, it doesn’t reset their boiler tickets, however, they do so much maintenance each year that when the boiler ticket expires, there is minimal work to be done. I misread their Facebook posts where they said 44871 had an overhaul this year, I believe its boiler overhaul last year, and overhaul/ replacement on other equipment this year

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2026 ==

It really depends on the engine. Taking a few Bluebell examples:
Locos like S15 847 and Q 541 lasted in the region of 8 years before being too broken to carry on. This is common for large, core fleet engines which are worked hard.
5MT 73082 worked for 6 years, before requiring work, so went straight into the works for some boiler attention, and came out with a fresh 10 year ticket. It wasn't a full overhaul.
P 178 got ticket extentions as it was lightly used, so worked around 11 years.

Due to Covid, and large locomotive availability, 75078 was overhauled between 2020 and 2022 (it’s previous overhauled concluded in 2015)

 

[martin butler]

I was under the impression boiler tickets were issued for fixed periods, 7 years for mainline operations and 10 years for heritage lines, and that these are absolute limits that cannot be extended or reset. After expiry only a new or completely reconditioned boiler would qualify for a new certificate.

often its full boiler detube, out of frames assessment by the boiler inspector , then once repairs are made, hydralic test, followed by an out of the frames steam test, but i believe wide fireboxes, where the outer can be fully seen, can be tested in the frames,

In the case of Rileys 5's it might be the yearly insurers test because all boilers have a yearly test, as well as the full 7 year(10 with retube) for mainline locos,

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2026 ==

Boiler insurers are often reluctant to extend a boiler ticket unless the boiler has had extensive work done and spent some time on that ticket out of service, its based on condition, yes the ten year ticket is a bit of a fallacy, as all boilers have a yearly inspection, fail that, and you can't steam that boiler until the inspector is happy with that the work has been done, but as a rule of thumb, most boiler insurers insist that a boiler is taken out of the frames for an external, and internal examination, once ten years has been served on that boiler, on the mainline its 7, but if you do a full retube its 10,

 

[Dave S 56F]

SVR resident Stanier Mogul 13268 to return to the main line with Vintage Trains (Link to SVR article)

Being reported that 13268 is returning to the mainline with Vintage Trains later this year and very nice to see another loco back on the mainline! I’ll add it to the list as (Proposed) as I still imagine there is some work to go first. If anyone could let me know when it’s most recent ticket started that would be great

(Edit: I’ve actually read the article and seen it returned 2023… I’m just stustupid

Are you sure it is going mainline on the 8 november o the worcester shakespeare express 42968 the stanier mogul? As it only did 2 years from 1996 to 98 it was the 1st engine in 1997 to climb the lickey bank what makes me say this is steam4MAX is that I've not seen no test runs planned which if tyseley do them they either go on the north warwick line to Stratford upon Avon or the derby loop via nuneaton Leicester derby Loughborough and tamworth. Nor it isent advertised as the rostered loco on the worcester shakespeare express 8 November.
I seem to remember the riddles 4mt 76084 only doing 2 mainline tours in february 2017 one on the Buxton spa where after the tour reached Heaton norris after 45690 leander Brought the tour from Preston and ran to buxton and back as far as Blackburn where it was detached to commerate its time it did stabled at lower Darwen. It also ran the whitby in march 2017 as I mentioned up the thread it top and tailed from York to whitby via Darlington and Nunnington and after those 2 tours besides its msinline test runs.
It was sent to the north norfolk railway where it only worked the Sheringham Cromer evening diner Trains only 5 miles top and tail with a class 20 diesel its only mainline mini stints it did until its ticket ran out in 2024 now stuck at Weybourne out of ticket.
Look at 6024 King Edward I its been in ticket almost 6 month and still nowhere to gauge it unless jeremy hoskins is waiting till 2027 to start its L.S.L. calendar of tours.

 

[kje7812]

Are you sure it is going mainline on the 8 november o the worcester shakespeare express 42968 the stanier mogul? As it only did 2 years from 1996 to 98 it was the 1st engine in 1997 to climb the lickey bank what makes me say this is steam4MAX is that I've not seen no test runs planned which if tyseley do them they either go on the north warwick line to Stratford upon Avon or the derby loop via nuneaton Leicester derby Loughborough and tamworth. Nor it isent advertised as the rostered loco on the worcester shakespeare express 8 November.

A post today by Vintage Trains on their Facebook page says so:

We're excited to tell you that Vintage Trains is welcoming a new locomotive to the fleet!

LMS No.13268, the Stanier Mogul, is joining us through a partnership with the Severn Valley Railway and the Stanier Mogul Fund, the charity that has cared for the locomotive since rescuing it from a scrapyard in south Wales back in 1973.

We're hopeful it will haul the Worcester Shakespeare Express on 8 November, its first outing with Vintage Trains. More details to follow as the date approaches.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Steam4Max]

Are you sure it is going mainline on the 8 november o the worcester shakespeare express 42968 the stanier mogul? As it only did 2 years from 1996 to 98 it was the 1st engine in 1997 to climb the lickey bank what makes me say this is steam4MAX is that I've not seen no test runs planned which if tyseley do them they either go on the north warwick line to Stratford upon Avon or the derby loop via nuneaton Leicester derby Loughborough and tamworth. Nor it isent advertised as the rostered loco on the worcester shakespeare express 8 November.
I seem to remember the riddles 4mt 76084 only doing 2 mainline tours in february 2017 one on the Buxton spa where after the tour reached Heaton norris after 45690 leander Brought the tour from Preston and ran to buxton and back as far as Blackburn where it was detached to commerate its time it did stabled at lower Darwen. It also ran the whitby in march 2017 as I mentioned up the thread it top and tailed from York to whitby via Darlington and Nunnington and after those 2 tours besides its msinline test runs.
It was sent to the north norfolk railway where it only worked the Sheringham Cromer evening diner Trains only 5 miles top and tail with a class 20 diesel its only mainline mini stints it did until its ticket ran out in 2024 now stuck at Weybourne out of ticket.
Look at 6024 King Edward I its been in ticket almost 6 month and still nowhere to gauge it unless jeremy hoskins is waiting till 2027 to start its L.S.L. calendar of tours.

I’m only going off what has been said by both SVR & Vintage trains… they have said subject to the usual conditions but it is scheduled for 8th November.

This is just my opinion but I would imagine the summer season at SVR and then fitting any missing equipment and testing throughout September and October

 

[Trainz6013]

The partnership between the KWVR and Ian Riley regarding 45212 has ended, with the loco set to return to the KWVR to await a decision on its future

Steam locomotive 45212 returning to Yorkshire as partnership 'not sustainable' https://share.google/JJZEmcPlexgYTx18O

"It has been announced that LMS Black 5 No. 45212 is to return to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway."

 

[37069]

45212 will be replaced in the Riley stud by 45163, currently undergoing restoration at Bury. Loco will then be on hire to Riley.

 

[Steam4Max]

48151 has been back on test today running from Carnforth to Hellifield. Still personally unsure as to why the boiler certificate was started when there is still a lack of use outside of heritage lines... but just my opinion.

 

[HertiageFan]

48151 has been back on test today running from Carnforth to Hellifield. Still personally unsure as to why the boiler certificate was started when there is still a lack of use outside of heritage lines... but just my opinion.

Unless mk1s return soon… Maybe some of the mk2s from The Jacobite which have vacuum brakes and CDL may form part of a rake that can run services over the winter period.

 

[Isle of Mull]

Unless mk1s return soon… Maybe some of the mk2s from The Jacobite which have vacuum brakes and CDL may form part of a rake that can run services over the winter period.

I would have hired it out to vintage trains if I were them

 

[kje7812]

I would have hired it out to vintage trains if I were them

The 8F is limited to 50mph IIRC (might be 45) which affects pathing. The Shakespeares often run back to Birmingham via Dorridge which has a max speed of 75mph.

 

[Isle of Mull]

The 8F is limited to 50mph IIRC (might be 45) which affects pathing. The Shakespeares often run back to Birmingham via Dorridge which has a max speed of 75mph.

Why is it limited may I ask, it could run on less used lines I guess

 

[kje7812]

Why is it limited may I ask, it could run on less used lines I guess

Steam loco max speeds were* limited according to their driving wheel diameter with over 6'2'' 75mph, between 6'2'' and 5'8'' 60mph, and smaller wheels a lower limit (Railway Group Standard GO/RT3440).
Rotational speeds play a part in the limits as do balancing on the wheel sets. I think 48151 is one of the 8Fs with better balancing weights for 'higher' speed running, hence 50mph rather than 45mph. This does have a negative effect on axle loading.


*I remember reading that there is now more flexibility in the limits.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Steam loco max speeds were* limited according to their driving wheel diameter with over 6'2'' 75mph, between 6'2'' and 5'8'' 60mph, and smaller wheels a lower limit (Railway Group Standard GO/RT3440).
Rotational speeds play a part in the limits as do balancing on the wheel sets. I think 48151 is one of the 8Fs with better balancing weights for 'higher' speed running, hence 50mph rather than 45mph. This does have a negative effect on axle loading.


*I remember reading that there is now more flexibility in the limits.

And I remember talking to a since-retired WCR driver who was brought up on 8Fs as a young hand, and who worked the 8F from Rugby to Southall via Willesden and Acton. His words back then were "even though it was "starred" it was still as rough as *uck on the Slow lines between Rugby and Roade at 50mph.


As explained, the 8Fs with improved balance weights had a white star under the number on the cabsides.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 10:16 ==

I would have hired it out to vintage trains if I were them

Vintage Trains are hiring a far more suitable class 5 mogul from the Severn Valley, and i am sure there will be some fun with that little beast on the Polar Expresses and VT tours.