J21 locomotive and NER stores van rebuilds making headway
THE Locomotive Conservation & Learning Trust has been continuing its project to restore NER J21 0-6-0 No. 65033 despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Like BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76077 (page 46), the locomotive is being overhauled at the Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd (LMS) works in Loughborough. The overhaul has progressed almost unaffected because working from home on it was impossible, and therefore, following Government direction, activity has continued at the works, although several aspects were delayed by sub-contractors’ Covid-19 mitigation actions.
Recent signs of progress are the expectation of driving wheels arriving back at LMS by the end of May and the new boiler backhead, costing £30,000, arriving at the works. Both of these parts of the overhaul were undertaken at South Devon Railway Engineering Ltd.
The trust still needs £40,000 to complete the project. Details of its 876 Club and 1889 Club membership, both payable by instalments, can be found at www.lclt.org.uk
Meanwhile, at Kirkby Stephen East, headquarters of the Stainmore Railway, the trust’s restoration of its unique 1902-built NER stores van was well underway before the pandemic struck and further progress was made inbetween lockdowns. However, its completion relies on volunteers to lay the new canvas on the recently-reinstated vehicle roof, hence a revised completion date of this autumn.
In the meantime, the trust has been able to accrue all the materials it needs for completion such as paint and the aforementioned canvas and has allowed the various specialist subcontractors to ‘catch up’ so that when needed, the various metal fittings and even reproduction gas lamps will be on hand to go straight onto the vehicle.