Wootton Hall benefits from some tender care in volunteers’ hands

FURNESS Railway Trust volunteers continue to make steady progress with the restoration of GWR 4-6-0 No. 4979 Wootton Hall from Barry scrapyard at the Ribble Steam Railway, Preston.

The tender is the current focus of attention. A milestone was reached on January 5 when the new Collett type 4000 gallon tender tank was fitted to the chassis, the original tank and coal space being badly wasted.

Following its relocation into the heated workshop, the damp inside the tender tank has dissipated. It is being cleaned up internally in readiness for welding repairs. Work is also being carried out on the outside of the tank, including addressing corrosion on its bottom angle, with filling and sanding where necessary.

On the locomotive itself, most of the cladding has now been fitted to the boiler on a temporary basis.

The fabricated cab side stanchions are being tidied up with filler so they look more like Swindon-manufactured pressings. The cab sides are also starting to receive attention where they have suffered after having been exposed to 50 years of the elements.

Once the tender is complete, efforts will be refocused on the mechanical side of the loco, followed by the boiler.