Duke is on course to steam this year
UNIQUE BR Standard 8P 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester is on course to return to steam this year, its custodians have confirmed.
The BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust stated: “Following a meeting with Tyseley, it has been jointly agreed that the Duke will be ready to resume main line duties by the end of this year. This is great news for all our members, along with every steam enthusiast who has supported us since 2014 when the Duke moved to Tyseley.”
The latest progress on the overhaul of the unique Riddles Pacific at Tyseley Locomotive Works has been the profiling of the tyres on the rear coupled wheelset, with the centre set to follow. The delivery of the crank axle wheelset to Tyseley is now expected in mid-March, having been held up by a Covid-related delay to the paperwork to approve the material specification for the new stub axles and crankpin. However, this will not affect the overall schedule or the locomotive’s completion date, as work can continue with the two axles in place.
Other work has included the assembly of No. 71000’s modified pistons, which are now ready to be installed in the cylinders, following the fitting of the slidebars to the latter.
The trust has obtained rare archive film of the Duke, including its move from Barry scrapyard to the Great Central Railway, the early stages of its restoration, and its first main line test run on March 14, 1990. It has used the footage to produce a 57-minute DVD, available only to members at £25 each. To join the group, visit www.theduke.uk.com or write to: The Duke, BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust, Aurora House, Deltic Avenue, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8LW.