5337 to return in LMS Livery after overhauL

‘Black Five’ No. 5337, owned by the 26B Railway Company, is to return to service in LMS livery following a full ‘ten‑yearly’ boiler overhaul.

Based at the Llangollen Railway, the Stanier 4‑6‑0 failed in July last year with what is described as a “fissure” in its firebox throatplate, and had its boiler lifted in October.

Following discussions with the LR and the boiler surveyor in February, explains Financial Director Phil Humphreys: “We realised that with the ‘ten‑year’ boiler certificate due to expire in 2020, we’d only have 12 to 18 months of running at most, so we decided to go for a new ticket.”

The first step in this process will be to strip all the small tubes and eight of the superheater flue tubes out of the boiler for an internal inspection to be carried out. The locomotive is not expected to return to traffic until the summer of 2020 at the earliest.

The group was also hit by the loss of one of its leading lights on March 25, with the death of Chairman Brian Sutcliffe at the age of 75. Mr Humphreys, who had known him since 1984 when the locomotive was rescued from Barry, said: “He was the reason 45337 was saved – we all played our part, but he was the inspiration.

“He wasn’t just an ordinary enthusiast or volunteer – he was a doer and a leader – and a gentleman.

“It floored us all – but now I have renewed enthusiasm to get the engine back together in his honour.”