THE ROSTER
LOCOMOTIVES IN FOCUS
GWR & CONSTITUENTS
2807: With its ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 set to bow out at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway on December 31/January 1 (SR499), Cotswold Steam Preservation has let the contract for its boiler overhaul to Riley & Son (E) Ltd, with the boiler expected to be transported to the Heywood workshop in mid-2020. A new ashpan for the locomotive is already being fabricated at Toddington.
4150: The largely complete ‘rolling chassis’ of the ex-Barry ‘Large Prairie’ is expected to move from its Bewdley restoration base to the Severn Valley Railway’s Bridgnorth works in April or May, for the overhauled boiler to be fitted into the frames, and final assembly of pipework and cladding undertaken.
Prior to this, a new frame stretcher is being installed under the bunker, to replace the badly wasted original. The boiler gauge glass frame is also being trialassembled in preparation for the first boiler tests.
Last steamed in 1965 and owned by the 4150 Fund, the ‘5101’ 2-6-2T is the last ex-Barry locomotive on the SVR yet to steam again.
5532: A ‘sponsor a tube’ appeal for the boiler overhaul of the ex- Barry ‘Small Prairie’ at Llangollen has so far paid for 19 smoke tubes at £90 each (with 177 remaining) and one superheater flue tube at £275 (with five remaining). For details, email the Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group’s Charles Cooksley at charles@colwyn.plus.com 6024: King Edward I’s tender returned to the West Somerset Railway on November 20 from the workshop of Bennett’s Boilers in Highbridge, where it has been extensively overhauled with a great deal of new metal in both tank and frames, as well as new cabinets to house main line electronic equipment. The boiler is expected back at Minehead imminently, having passed its hydraulic and steam tests at Riley & Son (E) Ltd and following installation of its new ashpan.
6695: This ‘56XX’ 0-6-2T is moving from the West Somerset Railway to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, with a view to completing its overhaul in the spring, hopefully in time for the SCR’s gala of March 28/29. The 25-year agreement between its owning group, 6695 Locomotive Ltd, and the WSR has now been terminated.
SR & CONSTITUENTS
825: The Essex Locomotive Society’s Maunsell ‘S15’ 4-6-0 has rejoined the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s fleet of engines that are certified to run over Network Rail metals to Whitby. It passed its test with a run up the Esk Valley line from Grosmont to Battersby on the evening of October 23. 30075: Work on the overhaul of this Yugoslavian ‘USA’ 0-6-0T, owned by Project 62, will benefit from covered accommodation in the St Patrick’s Industrial Estate, adjacent to the locomotive’s base of Shillingstone station. The engine’s steam domes, bunker, cab and tanks have been moved into the former factory unit, while the group is to have the cylinders of its other example – No. 30076 – inspected at the same time as those of its classmate.
34039: The major overhaul of the boiler from rebuilt ‘West Country’ Boscastle has been completed at the South Devon Railway, and it has now arrived back at the locomotive’s Great Central Railway base. A replacement tender tank for the Bulleid ‘Pacific’ has also been delivered to Loughborough, the original being available “to deserving causes” for use as a pattern or a source of spares.
Boscastle last steamed in June 2000, and Peter Greenwood of the engine’s owning group Boscastle Locomotive Ltd said: “I guess there’s around a couple of years to go before it’s all finished.”
LMS & CONSTITUENTS
752: With its saddle tank now permanently in place following its initial trial runs, the pipework on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘23’ 0‑6‑0ST is virtually complete and the engine is being prepared for final painting at the East Lancashire Railway. Volunteer John Sagar said: “It’s hoped to get the boiler inspector in at the start of January, with running‑in trials starting at the end of that month.”
The upper part of the engine’s cab interior has already been painted in Indian Red, which Mr Sagar said “is believed to have been favoured by Beyer Peacock, who built the locomotive. To improve the environment for crews, a ventilator has also been fitted to the cab roof, and this is thought to be an innovation for the class.”
44871: Ian Riley’s ‘Black Five’ is visiting the Nene Valley Railway to assist Bulleid ‘Pacific’
92 Squadron with the line’s Santa Specials. The Stanier 4‑6‑0 also hauled the Railway Touring Company’s excursion from Norwich to York and back on November 28, and will work service trains at the NVR on December 28/29 and January 5.
The NVR has also announced that Royal Scot will pay a repeat visit from May 7‑10 2020 for its event marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
45212: The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s ‘5MT’ returned to its home railway on November 12 for a winter stint of operation, having had its tyres turned following its season on the Fort William‑Mallaig ‘Jacobite’.
46441: Examination and nondestructive testing of the boiler from the Beet family’s Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2‑6‑0 has proved favourable, says Chris Beet, with no unexpected issues: “It needs a bit of new platework, a new smokebox and tubes, and there’s some cracking on the shoulders of the firebox backhead.”
The locomotive is being overhauled for use on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, the line where Chris’ late father, Dr Peter Beet, originally intended it to run after he purchased it from BR service in 1967. Work is now progressing on the tender, to be followed by the overhaul of the frames, wheels and a valve and piston examination.