URIE ‘S15’ FRONT END HAS BEEN REBUILT - FOR LESS THAN £6,000

A complete front-end rebuild of ‘S15’ No. 506 has been carried out for just £5,500, says the Urie Locomotive Society. The overhaul of the LSWR 4-6-0 at the Mid-Hants Railway has involved renewing the front nine feet of the frames, in addition to the front bufferbeam and some of the running plates. The work entailed the removal of both cylinders and the centre casting (the frame stretcher beneath the smokebox). But by using volunteer labour, the group has done the job for “£5.5k, including VAT” according to Chairman Mark Pedley - which includes the purchase of four replacement front-end frame sections, the others being for ex-Barry No. 499, which needs the front 14ft of its frames renewing. In the process, says Mr Pedley, “we’ve acquired a lot of skills - and although we had to engage a specialist welder, he has now joined the society.” With the cylinders refitted and the centre casting riveted back into place, the group’s spare ‘S15’ bogie has been temporarily reassembled to allow No. 506’s frames to be moved onto Ropley’s wheeldrop, for the driving wheels to be removed and sent away for the tyres, axle journals and crankpins to be turned. Almost all of the firebox crown stays have been fitted to the locomotive’s boiler. The replacement frame sections have also been welded onto the front of No. 499, with riveting work to start soon. The group aims to have both locomotives in steam for their centenary in 2020, with No. 30506 in BR black and No. 499 in original LSWR green with stovepipe chimney and no smoke deflectors. For more details, see