LOCOMOTIVE BRIEFS

27: The wheelsets of the Bluebell Railway’s SECR ‘P’ 0-6-0T are to be sent away for tyre turning, after the centre set was found to be below minimum tolerances. 4979: New engine and tender dragboxes are being made for Wootton Hall by the Furness Railway Trust. 5552: The Bodmin & Wenford Railway is removing the tubes from its 2-6-2T’s boiler at the start of its ‘ten-yearly’ overhaul. The engine last steamed in 2012. 5637: The ‘56XX’ 0-6-2T is about to undergo a boiler re-tube at the East Somerset Railway. 6989: Volunteers from the 7200 Trust are helping whitemetal the coupling rods for Wightwick Hall at Quainton Road. 7200: A replacement tapered boiler barrel section has been ordered from Dudley firm Barnshaws for the ex-Barry ‘72XX’ at Quainton Road, along with a tubeplate from the South Devon Railway. 35006: ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. moved under its own steam using all three cylinders for the first time on December 21, after re-fitting of the centre connecting rod. 41313: The vacuum and steam-heating pipework has been completed on the Isle of Wight Ivatt 2-6-2T at the East Somerset Railway, and work has commenced on the air-braking system. 44123: The London Midland Society is using the cab of its ‘4F’ 0-6-0 for its sales stand. New tender frames are nearing completion at the Avon Valley Railway. 65894: A new firebox tubeplate has been formed for NELPG’s ‘J27’ 0-6-0 by LNWR Crewe. 76017: The boiler of the Mid-Hants Railway ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 had passed its hydraulic test and was due for a steam test in late January.