HELLO TO A PANNIER… FAREWELL TO A ‘PRAIRIE’
Welcome to our new regular column where, like an engineman signing on for duty, you can see at a glance what’s happening with the ex-BR locomotive fleet this month: what’s visiting your local railway, what’s on shed for repairs, and what’s returning to steam or going into the works.
752: The restoration of the unique surviving Lancashire & Yorkshire ‘23’ 0‑6‑0ST reached a milestone on December 22, as its boiler underwent a successful steam test at H.A. McEwen Boiler Repairs of Cowling, near Keighley. Following shotblasting, painting and the production of a new smokebox wrapper, the boiler is expected to move in February to the East Lancashire Railway, where the locomotive is being overhauled by its owning group, the L&YR Trust, and the Bury Standard 4 Group. The locomotive’s axleboxes are currently receiving attention and the pistons and crossheads are being set up for the erection of the motion, with outstanding work including a repair to a crack in the frame. New LYR‑pattern spring hangers have been ordered, to replace the current items fitted during its National Coal Board service. A genuine LYR whistle has been acquired, and a replica chimney made in a joint order with ‘A’ class No. 12322 (52322) and ‘Ironclad’ No. 957 (52044). Its existing chimney is from a former Horwich Works shunter, and was fitted at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in the 1970s to replace the NCB item, but has itself now suffered badly from corrosion. 2874 and 3850: These two GWR 2‑8‑0s are to emerge from their respective overhauls in a more original state ‑ by swapping their driving wheelsets. Exchanges during BR repairs had left ‘2884’ No. 3850 sitting on wheels of the original Churchward design, while No. 2874 had picked up a set of the later pattern. With No. 3850 now dismantled for its ‘ten‑yearly’ overhaul and No. 2874 undergoing restoration from Barry condition at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, the opportunity is being taken to return both to as‑built condition. In No. 2874’s case, this will also include the fitting of a tall safety valve bonnet. Mike Solloway, a director of No. 3850’s owning group Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited (DMLL), said: “As No. 2874 is the only inside steam pipe ‘28XX’ likely to run again, we decided that if we were going to play that ‘originality’ card, we shouldn’t have it in 1960s condition!” The later‑pattern wheelsets now destined for No. 3850 have a set of thick tyres which will only require re‑profiling (as well as turning of the crankpins)
for which they will shortly be sent to the South Devon Railway. The older wheelsets need new tyres before going under No. 2874, but the replacement items have already been purchased. No. 3850’s overhaul is to include the fitting of a new cylinder block, the existing item being severely cracked. With quotes obtained for the casting, the drawings for the 3D CAD model are about to be approved. Originally acquired by DMLL in 2009, No. 2874 has now been transferred into the ownership of the charitable 2874 Trust, which will raise funds for the locomotive’s restoration while DMLL takes responsibility for its eventual operation. 4144: Didcot is aiming to have its ‘Large Prairie’ reassembled, following firebox repairs, in time for the start of the main 2017 operating season in April. 4253: The restorers of the GWR 2‑8‑0T at the Kent & East Sussex Railway are preparing to remove the firebox foundation ring for inspection and fit new rivets in the firebox lap seams. 4930: The overhaul of Hagley Hall’s tender frames is nearing completion at Bridgnorth, with the new steelwork riveted into place at the rear, while the new Collett‑pattern 4,000‑gallon tank has received its first coat of green paint. Engineering drawings of ‘Hall’ cylinders are being sought, following confirmation that new castings will be needed to replace the life‑expired originals. The engine’s support group, Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall, has set up a ‘donate by text’ scheme to raise funds ‑ to contribute, text ‘HALL29’ and your amount in pounds to 70070. 4936: The overhaul of Kinlet Hall got under way at Tyseley on November 30, with the lifting of the boiler. 4979: Last steamed in December 1963 when it was withdrawn from Oxford shed, Wootton Hall is now undergoing restoration from Barry condition at the Ribble Steam Railway, after years of storage alongside the Settle & Carlisle line at Appleby station. Its owning group, the Furness Railway Trust, is removing the tubes from its boiler and has begun producing new metalwork, including a replacement right‑hand cabside and steps, running plate angles, rear dragbox plate and tender buffer-beam. A pair of valve rods and parts for a replacement screw reverser have also been obtained. 5619: Photographers are sponsoring the repaint of the oldest surviving ‘56XX’ 0‑6‑2T into BR black, in a campaign arranged by Martin Creese of 30742 Charters. Currently wearing unlined green ‑ a guise briefly used on the class by the Western Region during 1957, before full lining was added later ‑ it will be the third preserved example to carry black, after Nos. 5637 and 6619. Owned by the Telford Steam Railway but managed by Bill Parker of the Flour Mill, No. 5619 has approximately eight years left on its boiler certificate, having received an overhaul 18 months ago. It is currently on loan to the Midland Railway ‑ Butterley, where it is expected to run until this autumn, including appearances on photographic charters for supporters of the repaint. 6984: Ex‑Barry ‘Modified Hall’ Owsden Hall at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway (featured in SR449 ‘In the Works’) has received its cylinder cladding, brass cab beading and speedometer. The coupling rods are to be sent to Tyseley for white-metalling and machining. 7200: The £120,000 appeal to overhaul the boiler for the prototype GWR 2‑8‑2T is one third of the way to its target, with £40,000 raised since its launch in SR455 in June. Donations can be sent to the 7200 Trust at 33 Douglas Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1ES, or made online via www.7200trust.org.uk Other recent progress on the ex‑Barry engine at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre has included the fitting of injector pipework. 7202: Didcot’s ex‑Barry ‘72XX’ has had its smokebox placed on the frames and its chimney temporarily fitted. This will make it look as complete as possible in the spring when a memorial service will be held for volunteer John Minchin, who died of cancer in October just a few days short of his 70th birthday. A leading light in the Great Western Society’s ‘Heavy Freight Mob’ from the 1970s, he helped to raise funds for No. 7202 and ‘2884’ No. 3822 through the Black Python real ale bar coach, and by designing the group’s T‑shirts. 7820: Now three years into its boiler certificate, Dinmore Manor is undergoing a valve and piston examination as part of its winter maintenance. Following the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’ on May 27‑29, it will head to the West Somerset Railway, running there from June to September alongside Llangollen‑based No. 7822 Foxcote Manor. 9629: Restoration of the boiler for the ex‑Barry pannier at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway (profiled in SR447 ‘In the Works’) has commenced with the removal of the tubes. 30053: Originally expected to come out of traffic at the Swanage Railway in February, the Drummond Locomotive Society’s ‘M7’ 0‑4‑4T has received an extension to its boiler certificate, thanks to a re‑tube carried out in 2011. Barring any mechanical problems, the locomotive
will now remain in service until November. 928 (30928): The Maunsell Locomotive Society’s ‘Schools’ 4‑4‑0 Stowe is the subject of what is being described as the Bluebell Railway’s heaviest‑ever boiler repair. The boiler ‑ which was originally built for No. 938 Epsom ‑ received a new inner firebox when it was fitted to Stowe in 1955, but has now had its outer firebox backhead, throatplate and lower sides of the outer wrapper replaced, along with the sides of the inner firebox. The copper inner doorplate and tubeplate have received specialist welding repairs to the lap seams. MLS Treasurer Steve Pilcher said: “This is the most extensive boiler repair undertaken in‑house at the Bluebell Railway, and is indicative of the extent of work that will be required in the future on other locomotives as age, and wear and tear, take their toll.” Meanwhile, the locomotive’s bottom end has been receiving attention, with the inside of the frames cleaned and repainted, the rear dragbox renovated, and the brake cylinder overhauled. Corroded areas of the cabsides have been cut out and replaced with new platework, new steam pipe castings and exhaust ports made and machined, and four new driving wheel springs purchased. All of the motion has been taken down and placed in store, and it is hoped that the frames can soon be lifted from the wheels and the axleboxes overhauled. The overhaul has cost nearly £200,000 so far, and is anticipated to need a further £100,000 before completion. Donations can be sent to the Treasurer, 312 Riverside Mansions, Milk Yard, London E1W 3TA, with cheques payable to the Maunsell Locomotive Society. 45596: The replacement outer backplate has been riveted to the firebox of Bahamas at Tyseley, along with the new outer throatplate and smokebox tubeplate. The ‘Jubilee’ has also had its piston valves refitted, the slidebars reassembled, and the pistons and crossheads machined. 46428: Dismantling of the ex‑Barry Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2‑6‑0 by the Bury Standard 4 Group continues at the East Lancashire Railway, with the brake rigging, cylinder covers and pony truck removed. 65033: The Locomotive Conservation & Learning Trust expects to hear in March whether its bid for Heritage Lottery funding to restore the ‘J21’ 0‑6‑0 has been successful. 73050: The third preservation‑era overhaul of the Nene Valley Railway’s ‘Standard Five’ has begun, with small parts such as cab fittings being removed before the engine is dismantled. With the outshopping of Bulleid ‘Pacific’ No. 34081 92 Squadron (see separate story), the Riddles 4‑6‑0 will be the next project to enter the Wansford workshop, with the job expected to take four to five years. Funding is already in place for the anticipated £250,000‑300,000 cost, thanks to £150,000 from Peterborough City Council (owners of the locomotive) and a £170,000 bequest from the estate of supporter Norman Leonard Cadge. The boiler repairs will be put out to contract, thus forming the lion’s share of the costs. 76077: A trust is being formed to take on the restoration of the ex‑Barry BR ‘4MT’ 2‑6‑0 at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, plans for which were first revealed in SR438. 78018: The Darlington Railway Preservation Society’s recently restored ‘2MT’ 2‑6‑0 returned to its home base at the Great Central Railway on January 12, following its stint on the Nene Valley Railway’s festive trains. Its last two days in steam at Wansford were for the ‘Standard Winter Warmer’ weekend, held on January 7/8, with resident ‘5MT’ No. 73050 specially placed on static display before its overhaul begins (see adjacent story). 78022: The wheelsets of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway‑based ‘2MT’ have been sent away to Riley and Son (E) for new tyres and are expected back in the early part of this year, while the crossheads have been machined ready to refit the slidebars. The main frames and horns are being checked prior to re‑shimming the axleboxes, by the team that performed the same task on Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2‑6‑2T No. 41241 in December. 80150: The Mid‑Hants Railway has launched a ‘Friends of 80150’ group to support the future restoration of the former ‘Barry Ten’ 2‑6‑4T. It is planned to move the locomotive to a location in public view for initial attention and fundraising to begin, with volunteers working to free up the rear bogie ‑ which has a tendency to derail due to missing springs and seized axlebox horns. 90775 (WD3652): Reassembly of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society’s WD 2‑10‑0 has been under way at Weybourne since the boiler passed its out‑of‑frames hydraulic and steam tests in September, with cladding, cab fittings, lubrication pipework and the new ashpan all back in place. The cab was refitted on December 22 after welding repairs to wasted areas, while four new piston valve liners were installed in early January after machining by Riley & Son Engineering. A return to steam by the end of March, and entry into full revenue‑earning service by late May, is the target for the ex‑Greek State Railways engine, which is pencilled in for 60 steaming days this year. BR black livery is to be reapplied, albeit with the early ‘cycling lion’ emblem in place of the late crest carried prior to its withdrawal in March 2009. The choice was the result of a member sponsoring the paint and transfers, says M&GN Society Chairman Neil Sharpe, although other suggestions had included wartime ‘desert sand’ guise and even Greek Railways black and red: “Steam preservationists in Greece have been taking quite an interest in the project!” The society’s ‘Iron War Horse Appeal’ remains open, having raised £25,840 towards the overhaul. Donations can be sent to Mr Sharpe at Magpie Cottage, Anne Stannard Way, Bacton‑on‑Sea, Norfolk NR12 0HX, or made online at