INDUSTRIAL ROUND-UP
Bagnall ‘Austerity’ 0‑6‑0ST No. 75178 (Works No. 2766): This recently restored locomotive has returned to a former preservation home where it had never steamed – but it seemed that it still did not want to run there.
The Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society’s engine visited the South Devon Railway for its 1940s Weekend on July 7/8, its first trip away from its Bodmin & Wenford Railway base since its restoration was completed last year. It had been based at Buckfastleigh from 1976 to 1993, but remained unrestored. However, it did not run at the wartime event, having failed with an eccentric strap problem – and subsequently failed a second time on a test run following repairs. The SDR had planned to keep it on hire for an extended period to cover for ‘57XX’ 0‑6‑0PT No. L92 (5786) which had failed with a slipped tyre, but repairs to the latter were completed sooner than expected and the ‘Austerity’ has now returned to Bodmin. Bagnall 0‑6‑0ST Works No. 2994 of 1950, No. 401: The overhauled boiler of this ‘high tech’ machine was returned to its frames at the North Tyneside Steam Railway on July 13, following overhaul at the North Norfolk Railway. Tyneside volunteers are now working on the lagging and cladding of the boiler. The ex‑Steel Company of Wales locomotive is perhaps best known for its spell at the West Somerset Railway. Manning Wardle 0‑6‑0ST Works No. 2047 of 1926 ‘Warwickshire’: A replacement cylinder block was fitted to the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust’s engine at the Severn Valley Railway on July 1. Its boiler, smokebox and saddle tank were moved from Bridgnorth to Bewdley on July 14, with the frames to follow once they are re‑wheeled.
Peckett 0‑6‑0ST Works No. 1567 of 1920, Ackton Hall No. 3:
An appeal is to be launched for the restoration of this ‘X2’ class locomotive at the Foxfield Railway. It has never steamed in preservation, despite being housed at a number of locations, and moved to Foxfield from the National Coal Mining Museum at Cap House in 2015. The appeal also covers the creation of a coal train featuring wooden‑bodied wagons.
Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0‑6‑0ST Works No. 7098 of 1943, National Coal Board No. 49: The Tanfield Railway is set to officially launch ex‑Backworth Colliery ‘Austerity’ No. 49 back into traffic during its ‘Mining Heritage Weekend’ on August 18/19. The locomotive completed trial runs in July after the completion of its overhaul, which has included a new firebox. Also set to be launched at the event is an ex‑North Eastern Railway bogie carriage restored to NCB condition in the style of the vehicles used at Ashington Colliery. Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0‑4‑0ST Works No. 7416 Agecroft No. 1: With the departure of South Eastern & Chatham Railway ‘P’ class No. 178 back to its Bluebell Railway base, the National Railway Museum looks set to offer Hawthorn haulage this summer with Agecroft No. 1. The 1948‑built locomotive is normally based at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester, another Science Museum Group site, but has become a semi‑regular sight in York handling brake van rides on the demonstration line.