Design work gets underway for new E1 boiler
WORK to design a new boiler for unique surviving LBSCR E1 No. B110 has commenced at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
The 1877-built Stroudley 0-6-0T received a Bagnall-built boiler after the Southern Railway sold it to the Cannock & Rugeley Colliery Company in 1927. The IoWSR plans to replace this with a new boiler, with a welded steel firebox but closely following the LBSCR Marsh-designed boilers with which the four original Isle of Wight E1s were fitted.
Both of the locomotive’s side tanks have been removed to allow accurate measurements of the frames for the new boiler because, as IoWSR rolling stock manager Andrew Summers explained, “we weren’t 100% sure what changes were made when the Bagnall boiler was fitted.”
With drawings acquired from the National Railway Museum, he said “a lot of the groundwork has been done” for the new boiler.
The railway has engaged engineer Graham Morris to carry out the design work, and once this is complete, tenders will be sought for its construction.
Volunteers are also cleaning up the locomotive’s smokebox saddle casting and removing the running plates, which were temporarily bolted together for the engine to be displayed at its previous home at the East Somerset Railway, but will be riveted on when reassembly takes place.
The IoWSR acquired the E1 in 2012, a deal which saw its Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 No. 46447 move to the ESR on long-term loan. E1’s purchase and restoration is being funded by a bequest and in accordance with the benefactor’s wishes, it will be restored in the guise of island classmate No. W2 Yarmouth.
Priority engine
The Vectis-based E1s were known as ‘Big Stroudleys’ to island footplatemen to distinguish them from their smaller A1X ‘Terrier’ cousins.
One of the latter, No. W8 Freshwater, is currently undergoing its 10-year overhaul at the IoWSR, with the aim of returning it to steam next year to mark the 150th anniversary of the class.
The ‘Terrier’ is therefore now taking priority over the overhaul of Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Invincible, which the IoWSR had hoped to finish in time for the line’s 50th anniversary celebrations in June (News, pages 20 and 21), Invincible having been one of the railway’s first locomotives when it arrived in 1971.
However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that it was not possible to complete both Invincible and flagship O2 0-4-4T No. W24 Calbourne for the anniversary year, and so the latter engine was prioritised.