Restoration work begins on 55021 cab
unrestored cab from scrapped Class 55 Deltic 55021 Argyll & Sutherland Highlander has been moved from The Cab Yard in South Wales to Staffordshire for major bodywork repairs to be carried out, as its owner progresses plans to restore the cab for public visits.
This year marks 60 years since 55021 first entered service on BR but, as reported in the January issue of Railways Illustrated, the cab is now in poor condition, having stood in a largely unrestored condition for almost 40 years.
Owner Richard Benyon has now had the cab moved to the workshops of IW Fabrications, where specialist contractor Ian Williams will replace the badly corroded outer skin of the cab and carry out fabrication of all other corroded body sections. Modifications will also be carried out to provide a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible entrance through the area occupied by the electrical cubicle. The conversion will retain the original look of the cab but will allow disabled access.
When the heavy fabrication works are complete – which is expected to be towards the end of May, the cab will move to Barrow Hill for a repaint into 1970s BR blue by the volunteers of the Deltic Preservation Society who have recently completed the refurbishment of the surviving cab from 55008 The Green Howards. The agreement between Mr Benyon and the 55008 team will see 55021’s cab stay at Barrow Hill for two years, where it will be displayed with 55008. The cab from 55021 will then return to The Cab Yard at the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway, where a purpose-built building is being constructed to house it and a number of other cabs from Mr Benyon’s collection.
Mr Williams has extensive experience in carrying out professional welding and fabrication works on preserved locomotives. He has worked on a large number, particularly those based on the Severn Valley Railway and various preserved Class 50s.
Mr Benyon was introduced to Mr Williams following publication of the article on 55021’s cab in Railways Illustrated.