THE ROSTER
LOCOMOTIVES IN FOCUS
GWR & CONSTITUENTS
Taff Vale Railway No. 28: Volunteers from the Gwili Railway’s Welsh Train Project have been restoring boiler fittings from the National Collection 0-6-2T as homework during the lockdown. Among them is the blower valve, which had been one of a number of parts missing for several years until they were rediscovered in the stores at the locomotive’s previous base of the Llangollen Railway. The valve had been painted black in the 1990s, when the engine was at the Caerphilly Railway Society, as a security measure to guard against theft, and its overhaul commenced by stripping and cleaning it with supermarket own-brand cola.
Drawings have been obtained from the National Railway Museum for another component that is still missing – the Roscoe displacement lubricator. The drawing has been used to create a 3D computer model for patterns, and a 3D-printed replica will be made to prove the design and for display at fundraising events.
As detailed in SR503, the Welsh
Train Project aims to restore a complete train of Taff Vale and GWR carriages to run with No. 28 at the Gwili Railway, which has been awarded a lottery grant for two of the coaches (see News).
1466: South Devon Railway Engineering has produced a new boiler barrel section for the Great Western Society’s ‘14XX’ 0-4-2T, as well as a new tubeplate angle ring. The locomotive is being overhauled by contractors Western Steam Engineering at the Dean Forest Railway, with the aim of returning it to steam next year for the GWS’ 60th anniversary.
New tank sides have been ordered after needle-gunning of the existing right-hand tank revealed that a build-up of scale
In a preservation first, the Swindon & Cricklade Railway is hosting three ‘56XX’ 0-6-2Ts – with the possibility of a unique line-up taking place next year.
The Wiltshire line currently has operational No. 5619 on hire from the Telford Steam Railway, while former resident No. 5637 returned earlier this year for overhaul, after more than twenty years at the East Somerset Railway.
The third is No. 6695, which arrived last year after its 25-year hire contract with the West Somerset Railway was terminated. Its overhaul is nearing completion, with the aim being a return to steam next spring.
Displaying all three Welsh Valleys tanks together is dependent upon whether No. 5619 stays on the line for long enough.
SCR publicity manager Allan Bott said: “We are going to request an extension of the hire of 5619, so that she hopefully remains with us until the end of May 2021.
“5637 won’t be taken apart until 6695 is finished. If 5619 isn’t departing any time soon, then a line-up will definitely be on the cards.
“We are aiming to start running by the end of August and hopefully steam will return for our Santa season.”
Working parties on No. 6695 recommenced in June with social distancing measures. New pistons and piston rods have been manufactured by the WSR plc at Minehead, while the crossheads have received new whitemetal bearings at West Somerset Restorations of Williton (the latter having been the locomotive’s previous overhaul base). Other motion parts are refurbished and ready to assemble when the connecting rods can be fitted.
The Collett engine’s boiler is virtually complete at the Flour Mill, with its tubes fitted, although it will now be stored until a date is set for official inspection and testing.
Said Nigel Clark of its owning group: “Our main problem continues to be funding, and while work has continued we do need to raise approximately £30k this year to ensure we can pay all the bills! We will be appreciative of any donations or offers of loans, and shares are available upon request.”
The group became a private limited company, 6695 Locomotive Ltd, at the end of last year – for details of shares, email gary.cox1960@icloud.com