DUE FOR OVERHAUL

Talyllyn: The ‘ten-yearly’ overhaul of the Talyllyn Railway’s 0-4-2ST will begin in March. Furness Railway No. 20: The Furness Railway Trust’s 1863-built 0-4-0 comes out of ticket in August. W8 Freshwater: As the boiler certificate of this ‘Terrier’ expires in March 2019, says Isle of Wight Steam Railway General Manager Peter Vail: “She will be available for the 2018 season and then out of traffic. “It is still to be agreed, but with 2018 being Freshwater’s last season, at some point I am keen to see an event with our three island locomotives – Freshwater, Calbourne and ‘Terrier’ No. W11 Newport – in service together.” 4277: With its boiler ticket due to expire on February 9, the Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Churchward 2-8-0T will bow out at the Churnet Valley Railway’s steam gala on February 3/4. 5043: Earl of Mount Edgcumbe’s boiler certificate expires during the fourth quarter of 2018, but fans of Tyseley’s double-chimney ‘Castle’ need not despair – it is expected to receive a very swift overhaul lasting only “three to six months,” says Ben Mason of Vintage Trains. 7812: Erlestoke Manor’s boiler certificate expired on December 31, with the locomotive due to have its own mini-farewell at the Severn Valley Railway on December 30/31, before heading to Tyseley for a contract overhaul. In a similar event, Southern Locomotives Ltd’s ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34053 Sir Keith Park was to run at the SVR for the last time on January 1/2, before taking up permanent residence at the Swanage Railway (SR471). 9600: Tyseley’s ‘8750’ 0-6-0PT is also coming to the end of its boiler ticket during 2018, but like No. 5043, it will undergo a quick overhaul. 44806: This former Lostock Hall ‘Black Five’ was expected to make the last runs of its boiler ticket at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on January 1. 45379: Although it returned to service in 2010 following its restoration from Barry condition, the Mid-Hants Railway’s ‘Black Five’ reaches the end of its ‘ten-year’ boiler certificate in September 2018 – because the hydraulic test that ‘started the clock ticking’ was carried out in 2008. As a special farewell, it will be joined by classmate No. 45231 at the ‘Watercress Line’s’ ‘Pre-Spring Steam Gala’ of February 9-11, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of BR steam in 1968 (see News). 48624: The Great Central Railway-based Southern Railway-built ‘8F’ is due to be withdrawn for overhaul in July 2018. 70013: Steam Railway appeal ‘Britannia’ Oliver Cromwell reaches the end of its current boiler certificate in March, after which a decision will be made on the future of the National Collection ‘Pacific’. 80072: 2018 will be the final year of service prior to overhaul for the Llangollen-based ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T, whose boiler certificate expires on January 1 2019. It is currently visiting the Severn Valley Railway, where it will take part in the Spring Steam Gala of March 16-18, before returning to Wales in time for Llangollen’s own gala on April 13-15. 90733: Now due to be withdrawn at the beginning of April, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s WD 2-8-0 will make its final special event appearance at the line’s Winter Steam Gala of March 9-11, alongside visiting SDJR ‘7F’ 2-8-0 No. 53808 from the West Somerset Railway.