Young engineer completes ‘ Baby Deltic’ overhaul
DIESEL hydraulicD5905CityofDerby is all set forareturntoaction– afteran overhaulwasmastermindedby23- yearsoldengineerTroyTrevains.
In late- 2016, Cornwall’s 15ingauge Lappa Valley Railway bought the locomotive fromthe defunct Markeaton Park Light Railway in Derby, along with that line’s rolling stock.
Built atMarkeatonPark in 2003, this much- loved re- creation of a‘ Baby Deltic’arrived at St Newlyn East in poor condition, becoming more and more unreliable.
In February 2019, it was decided to withdraw the locomotive foramajor rebuild – and then Troy set to work.
Experience
Troy joinedLappaValley in early- 2016 afterbeingmaderedundant fromhis job working in IT, his firstcareerchoice.
Hewasalready familiar with railways, havingbeenavolunteerontheBodmin & WenfordRailwayforafewyears. Itwas therewherehemet currentLappaValley operationsmanagerBenHarding.
Ben said:“The overhaul of Cityof Derby has been an interesting, long process in which Troy has led the project fromstart to finish.
“The first major project was to construct brand new bogies a for the loco.
“This sawTroywork closely with
Joseph Hawkins, another 23- yearold self- employed engineer from Launceston.
“This was only the start, as major structural strengthening of the locomotive frames and rebuilding of the bodywork took place, a brand new engine mounting system was designed and built, a complete new engine and hydraulic cooling system built, new fuel system and fuel tank, new dashboard and controls in both cabs, a complete rewire, new livery and then of course, testing.
“Help was only required with the rewire of the locomotive and construction of the fuel tank, but the majority of the work was carried out by Troy himself.”
Ben added:“Troy has done a wonderful job with the overhaul. It is a real credit to what young people can achieve and it now joins the roster of locomotives working on the 15ingauge line at the railway.
“We have been extremely lucky to be able to have kept a core team working during the pandemic, which has enabled us to get on topof several jobs that were on the‘ wish list’, including further track relaying!”
CityofDerby is now resplendent in the Lappa Valley’s take on BR green with half yellowends.
➜ Fordetails of the railway’s reopening after theCovid- 19 lockdown, visitwww. facebook. com/ LappaValleyCornwall/ or www. lappavalley. co. uk