BIG ENGINE OVERHAULS STIR INTO LIFE – BUT IT’S NOT A UNIFORM PICTURE

Like animals after hibernation, more of steam’s workshops slowly started to wake in July – and rebuilds that had been paused or ticking over only in people’s sheds and garages came back to life.

One of those is the contract overhaul of Duke of Gloucester, taking place at Tyseley. On July 10, BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust chairman Trevor Tuckley was able to report that his outfit is “more hopeful now of achieving the second half of 2021 for getting it finished.”

That follows post-lockdown attendance at the former 84E not only by Tyseley workshop staff, but also the presence on site by No. 71000’s own working group team leaders Dave Oliver (engineering manager), John Attridge and Andrew Bailey. July also saw the engine’s 6ft 2in driving wheels moving to Boro’ Foundry (Stourbridge) for reboring after the bores were welded at Tyseley, and the 4-6-2’s cannon boxes returning from Metalock ready for fitting of manganese liners.

Aside from this, setting gauges have also been made by Dave Oliver for the rebuilt cam boxes – just part of the work that’s taken place, in homes, during lockdown.

The picture is not the same everywhere: for example, the Crewe workshops of Locomotive Services restarted under social distancing after only a short break, but on

July 10, Sir Nigel Gresley’s keepers were still waiting to find out when they could restart on the ‘A4’ inside the NRM’s workshops. The museum, No. 60007’s Nigel Wilson said, “have indicated they will be in touch soon”.

Also as yet still unknown is when John Cameron’s ‘Streak’

No. 60009 will move from York to the East Lancs Railway. Union of South Africa has been at the NRM since running its final main line trip in March (SR506); a period at Bury beckons before the Gresley 4-6-2 retires for permanent static display.