‘Half-cab’ boiler for Tyseley overhaul
THE boiler of sole-surviving Midland Railway 1F‘half cab’0-6-0T No. 41708 was set to move to Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham for overhaul – pending final contract sign-off.
Last steamed in 2003, the ‘halfcab’ has been based at Barrow Hill roundhouse since 2005. In 2019, the Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society concluded a purchase of No. 41708 with a firm commitment to return it to steam with dismantling for overhaul beginning in 2020.
Built at Derby in 1880 as No. 1418 it was first allocated to Burton upon
Trent, moving to Spital in 1892, Toton by 1902 and back to Burton in 1929. It was requisitioned by the War Department in 1940 and placed on loan to the army between April that year and December 1944, where it was employed on the Melbourne line that ran between Derby and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, on which army and allied engineers were trained in preparations for the invasion of mainland Europe.
When withdrawn at Staveley Ironworks in 1966 it was the oldest locomotive in service with BR. Its survival was partially down to sister locomotive No. 41712, the subject of fundraising efforts to save it, as it had been overhauled as recently as 1963, being sold for scrap before sufficient funds could be raised.
The Midland Railway Locomotive Fund had raised enough by 1966 to acquire one of the remaining five class members, opting for No. 41708 as it was considered to be in the best condition despite being the oldest survivor.
Subject to sufficient funds being raised, it is envisioned that the locomotive could return to steam in late 2024 or early 2025.
➜ Barrow Hill 150 Not Out (plus two): feature, pages 50-53.