BIG BAGNALL IS ON HOME STRAIGHT

The overhaul of Steel Company of Wales Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 401 has entered the home straight at the North Tyneside Steam Railway. The ‘Super Bagnall’ has been out of traffic since 2009, but is expected back in steam in the not-too-distant future. The boiler of the 1950-built machine, W/No. 2994, is currently at Weybourne on the North Norfolk Railway, where significant firebox repairs have been carried out. The fitting of crown stays and boiler tubes is now under way as the work approaches completion. Back at the NTSR’s Middle Engine Lane base, the chassis was being stripped in October to remove the wheelsets. These will receive new tyres, for which an extra £4,500 has been raised. Known as Vulcan during its days with the Austin Motor Company and later the West Somerset Railway during its early preservation life, the Bagnall will take the North Tyneside’s working steam fleet up to three. Peckett 0-6-0ST Ashington No. 5 and Kitson ‘long boiler’ 0-6-0PT A. No. 5 form the current operational stud. The NTSR has recently benefited from work on the Tyne and Wear Metro system, which crosses the preserved line and has long ties with it. Contractors TXM Rail donated 250 tonnes of ballast and wooden sleepers to the railway during September. The materials have been used to upgrade the existing running line.