…and 84030 will soon be ‘rolling’ too

The new example of the other extinct BR Standard 2-6-2T class should also be ‘rolling’ this year, with the expected wheeling of ‘2MT’ No. 84030 at the Bluebell Railway. Although temporarily placed on the leading and trailing driving wheels in 2012 to permit shunting, the frames were lifted again in October 2013 and moved to a new location alongside the Atlantic House shed, to make space in the running shed for operational locomotives. It is now planned to lay a short section of track here and erect a ‘poly shed’ to allow all-weather working on No. 84030, which is being converted from ex-Barry ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 78059. Recent progress includes the newly manufactured and machined horn guides fitted to the horn blocks, while the axleboxes have been re-metalled and machined, and their underkeep castings are nearing completion. Elsewhere, the front bufferbeam and dragbox have been riveted and lubrication pipework is being fitted, while the fabrication of the driver’s pedestal will provide a reference point for vacuum pipework. The cylinder drain cocks are being machined, with castings for their connections and for the sandbox lids on the way. Once the frames are wheeled, the next stage will be to machine and fit the motion and cylinders, and assemble the front and rear pony trucks (the latter being produced with the co-operation of the 82045 group). The machining of its frame casting is already nearing completion. More details of the project can be found at