‘FOXCOTE’ TO WSR’S RESCUE AFTER ‘S160’ AIR PUMP CATCHES FIRE
Foxcote Manor has steamed for its longest consecutive period in preservation, helping the West Somerset Railway through a steam shortage caused by the failure of ‘S160’ No. 6046. The Llangollen-based Collett 4-6-0 clocked up 28 days of continuous operation at the WSR during May and early June, the first time it had done so since BR days, before being stopped for a routine boiler washout during the line’s diesel gala on June 8-10. The USATC 2-8-0, on loan from the Churnet Valley Railway, was withdrawn after its air pump caught fire on May 24. As a result, the WSR is currently down to three operational steam locomotives – No. 7822, ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6960 Raveningham Hall and ‘7F’ No. 53808 – but, with three daily steam diagrams in the peak summer timetable, has been forced to substitute Class 33 diesels Nos. D6566 and D6575 when the steam locomotives have been undergone washouts or maintenance. However, the shortage will ease with the return to steam of another ‘Manor’, resident No. 7828 Odney Manor. Its boiler is expected to arrive back at the WSR in late June, following overhaul at Riley & Son (E) Ltd, and its valves, pistons and rods have been refitted after a bottom end overhaul. It will be reassembled as soon as possible, after which the WSR will turn its attention to ‘Mogul’ No. 9351 with a view to getting it back into service by the end of the year; this engine’s smokebox is currently undergoing final adjustment after refitting to the frames. Discussions are under way for Foxcote Manor to attend the Mid-Hants Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala of October 19-21 – which would make it the first of its class to run on the ‘Watercress Line’, and recall the regular operation of the class on the Reading-Redhill route. In January 2019, it will be sent to Tyseley Locomotive Works for a ‘bottom end’ overhaul.