Darjeeling tank will cost at least £140k to repair – shock report
THE overhaul of Sharp Stewart B class 0-4-0WTT No. 19B – the only locomotive from the British-built Darjeeling Himalayan Railway resident in the UK – is set to cost its new owning group an unexpected sixfigure sum before it can steam again.
As reported in issue 308, the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust was successful in buying No. 19B and two matching replica coaches at the auction of its former owner, the late Adrian Shooter’s private Beeches Light Railway, on June 21 last year, and agreed to have it overhauled and based at the Statfold Barn Railway.
At Statfold, the report from the initial visual inspection looked like exceptionally good news, with only the expected issues as with every 10-yearly overhaul apparent, such as grooving above the foundation ring.
However, the subsequent results from the non-destructive and ultrasound testing were the opposite. DTLT chairman Jeremy Davey said: “We learned that the old copper firebox, nursed along so carefully for the last 20 years, despite its patches and cracks, needs to be replaced. Additionally, some other areas of concern emerged, which meant lengthy discussions about the best way forward”.
It had already been decided that the key objective of the overhaul was to aim for 40-50 years of boiler life before further major work was required. The 19B team needed to look at the most effective approach from both an engineering and an economic viewpoint and after much consideration with the benefit of detailed condition reports, the choice was between: the overhaul of the chassis with a new boiler – with the likely total cost being about £200,000; or overhauling the chassis, and overhauling the boiler with a new inner firebox, outer wrapper, and partreplacement of the backhead and throatplate – costing about £140,000.
In the light of these negative reports, Graham Lee’s Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust offered to meet a significant part of the overhaul cost in the shape of £50,000 worth of work donated.
The DTLT had built up reserves of nearly £20,000 through supporters’ donations and corporate matchfunding since purchasing the locomotive and carriages. Grant application opportunities are now being researched by the restoration team, and these will be greatly assisted by a 30-page detailed engineering condition report written by 19B passed fireman Will Smith.
Not the original boiler
19Btreasurer‘Fuzz’Jordansaid:“These are exceptionally generous donations by Statfold Barn and the 200-plus supporters. On behalf of the trustees, I cannot find words to tell you how grateful we are.
“There are then sufficient funds available to overhaul the chassis, ready for the boiler. But what was the decision about the boiler, given it was believed it was pretty much the original 1889 one?
“The trustees had wanted to keep this almost-original working 1889 boiler operational, given it was a very rare piece of engineering history and not replace parts until it was a ‘Tiggers Broom’ boiler!”
Jeremy said: “The earliest we can now get 19B back in service, assuming we can fund repair work at the pace required, is spring 2025. If we go for a new boiler, then we’re looking at another 18 months for the design, manufacture, and certification, and
No. 19B will miss potentially three main operating seasons.”
Raising the extra estimated £60,000 needed was seen as a challenge. Despite the DTLT team raising £300,000 in three months last year to buy no. 19B, it was decided this was a step too far, as the team want to give back to the heritage community and not just keep asking and taking from supporters.
Trustee Andy Savage said: “The interesting news broke when Will Smith’s report was circulated, which made the decision-making far easier.”
Among the many images Will illustrated his report with were the bronze flange on the driver’s side of the dome base casting where the vacuum ejector steam take-off valve is fitted.
Will said: “Once the boiler was shotblasted, we found a stamping underneath it: ‘B 4977’.
“We have looked closely and we are pretty sure it’s an original fitment, not a replacement ‘robbed’ from another boiler. No. 19B’s works number from Sharp Stewart & Co’s Atlas Works in Glasgow is 3518, while B 4977 was the works number of an almost-identical B class locomotive built in 1903.”
Its manufacture was just prior to the company merging with others to become the North British Locomotive Company.
No. 4977 is better-known as 27B, or 784 in the all-India numbering scheme, and is one of the very modified Bs now at Tipong Colliery.