‘HIGH-TECH’ BAGNALL SHUNTER RETURNS TO STEAM AT NORTH TYNESIDE
North Tyneside Steam Railwaybased Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 401 ‘Thomas Burt MP’ – formerly known as Vulcan – has returned to steam for the first time in over a decade.
A fire was lit in the 1950-built former British Leyland shunter’s firebox for the first time since 2008 on January 17, ahead of a successful steam test later that day.
The locomotive was one of three ‘New Standard 18’ 0-6-0STs Nos. 401-3 (Works Nos. 2994-6) ordered by the Steel Company of Wales to operate at its Port Talbot works. The engines – named Vulcan, Valiant and Victor respectively – were notable for having a number of modern features, including outside Walschaerts valve gear, roller bearings and rocking grates, which set them apart from other industrial locomotives.
Works Nos. 2994 and 2996 were sold to the Austin Motor Company Ltd (later British Leyland) for use at its Longbridge plant, where both were purchased for preservation in 1973. Works No. 2995 Valiant was eventually sold to the National Coal Board and was scrapped in 1967 after problems with its steel firebox.
Commenting on No. 401’s overhaul, NTSR Association Chairman Michael Darling said: “The engine was fully stripped down around seven years ago after failing in service in 2008 with firebox problems. The boiler was sent away to the North Norfolk Railway for a new inner firebox, as well as repairs to the barrel. While the boiler was away it was decided to fit the locomotive with new tyres as the old ones were worn out.
“No. 401 has been rebuilt over the past 12 months and is now in the final stages of the overhaul. All that is left to do is to have the engine weighed and balanced. It will be steam tested a handful of times and finally in front of our boiler insurance surveyor to have the boiler signed off.
“It will then be run in before entering passenger service over Easter 2019, possibly earlier.”
●● Classmate No. 403 (Works No. 2996) Victor is currently operational on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.