THE ROSTER
In our annual Roster special, here are the ex-BR and main line company locomotives expected to return from overhaul during the coming year, and those due to reach the end of their boiler certificates.
FRESH OUT OF THE SHOPS
Corris Railway No. 3: ‘Sir Haydn’ is expected to return to steam on the Talyllyn Railway in early 2018, carrying standard TR green livery. The Hughes 0-4-2ST has undergone an extensive overhaul at the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s Aberystwyth workshops. Vale of Rheidol No. 7: Owain Glyndwr ^ is being reassembled at Aberystwyth, with the side tanks and sandboxes fitted, a new chimney and blastpipe made, and the coal bunkers being built. It will enter traffic in 2018, confirmed VoR Operating Officer Will Smith: “We had hoped to complete it in 2017, but there has been no great rush for it and we take the view that if a job is worth doing it is worth doing well.” This will mean that all three VoR 2-6-2Ts are available for service, with Nos. 8 (Llewelyn) and 9 (Prince of Wales) currently in traffic; the latter will be withdrawn for its ‘tenyearly’ overhaul at the end of 2019. W24 Calbourne: Although it is not starting a new boiler ticket, the celebrated ‘O2’ 0-4-4T will make its welcome return to service on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in 2018, having been out of action during 2017 for bottom end repairs. It is anticipated that the work will be completed in time for the start of the IoWSR’s operating season on March 18. The locomotive’s boiler certificate expires in 2020. Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Collieries No. 29: This Kitson 0-6-2T, an ‘honorary’ main line machine, having been registered to work on BR metals, is expected to return to steam on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 2018 following overhaul. 1340: Originally expected to return to steam at Didcot Railway Centre in 2017, Alexandra Docks Railway 0-4-0ST Trojan is being overhauled by Locomotive Maintenance Services of Loughborough. It has been delayed by additional boiler work, but it is now hoped that it will be ready for the main 2018 season, having last steamed in 2011. 1369: It was only withdrawn for overhaul in May, but the South Devon Railway’s ‘1366’ 0-6-0PT could return to steam this year, says SDR Association President Richard Elliott: “If the boiler work does not escalate too much we have a chance of getting it back in traffic sometime in 2018. The chassis is well advanced; we need to build it two new pannier tanks, and the boiler needs at least a partial new backhead plus the usual re-tube – but we know of a place that makes backheads!” (referring to SDR Engineering at Buckfastleigh). 2999: The boiler for Steam Railway appeal ‘Saint’ Lady of Legend passed its official out-of-frames insurance steam test at Didcot Railway Centre on November 29. A ‘Built Didcot 2018’ worksplate has been produced for the Churchward 4-6-0, converted from ex-Barry ‘Hall’ No. 4942 Maindy Hall (SR470). But although “the clock is now ticking”, meaning that the boiler’s ‘ten-year’ certificate has commenced, Project Engineer Peter Chatman says that completion in 2018 is dependent upon volunteer availability. “If it does steam in 2018, it’ll be towards the back end of the year,” he said. “I’m convinced that it will require even more work than a normal Barry restoration, once we get the wheels turning.” 3802: An early ‘2018 returnee’ is this GWR ‘2884’ 2-8-0, which was expected to re-enter traffic at the Llangollen Railway in late December. It was withdrawn for its ‘ten-yearly’ overhaul in late 2015. 4555: As this issue went to press, re-alignment of the Churchward 2-6-2T’s bottom end was expected
to be complete at the Dartmouth Steam Railway, following extensive frame repairs. The left-hand extension frame was found to have cracked during its last boiler certificate, and has been welded up with an additional bracing support being fabricated. Most of the valve gear is back in place, along with the slidebars, while the crossheads have been re-metalled and a new gudgeon pin is being machined. Next on the list is machining of the axlebox crowns, thrust faces and horn liners prior to re-wheeling, while new lubrication and injector pipework has been delivered. The ‘Small Prairie’ was originally expected to return to service in March, but delays in sourcing new flue tubes are likely to delay it until April or May. The boiler is being rebuilt at Tyseley, where most of the firebox work is finished, the next task being to rivet the replacement barrel sections together and attach them to what remains of the original boiler. 4936: As detailed in SR474’s Roster, Kinlet Hall is expected to steam again in October following a two-year overhaul at Tyseley. 4953: Pitchford Hall is due to be running again on the Epping Ongar Railway in the spring or summer of 2018, following overhaul by Locomotive Maintenance Services of Loughborough. Its bottom end is described as “99% complete” while the boiler is receiving a new front tubeplate and smokebox, with the firebox completely re-stayed after a new three-quarter backhead section was fitted. The tender has also been lifted off its wheels to inspect the springs and axles, and the vacuum cylinder refurbished at the EOR. Tony Goulding, the line’s Rolling Stock Manager, says that the Collett 4-6-0 will return in “a completely new livery not worn since her BR days!” The EOR’s other GWR engine, ‘Large Prairie’ No. 4141, is also at Locomotive Maintenance Services and expected back for the start of the 2019 season, with a new ‘ten-year’ boiler ticket and having received a light bottom-end overhaul. 5029: Last steamed in 2015, Nunney Castle is undergoing extensive boiler repairs at LNWR Crewe. A return to action in 2018, says Peter Greenwood of Locomotive Services Ltd, is “doubtful, but I wouldn’t totally rule it out.” 5521: Since its boiler certificate expired in October 2016, Bill Parker’s GWR ‘Small Prairie’ has been completely dismantled at his Flour Mill workshops for an overhaul that will include a new front boiler barrel section, replacement front tubeplate, and outer firebox work. Says Mr Parker: “There is a good chance it could steam in 2018, but we’re not too bothered whether it does or not – as it’s our own engine, we work on it between jobs for clients.” 6024: Work on King Edward I’s driving wheels, axleboxes, bogie and valve gear is largely complete at the West Somerset Railway, with the focus now being on the brake gear and main line electronic equipment. A replacement three-quarter section for the firebox backhead has been produced for the boiler, which is being overhauled by Riley & Son (E) Ltd, while the tender has been re-wheeled at a private site in Highbridge. The ‘King’ is advertised as taking part in the £30,000-a-head ‘Royal Scotsman’ railtour in October 2018 (SR473) – but volunteers working on the locomotive at Minehead are of the opinion that it is unlikely to be ready by this date. When asked: “Do you know it’s booked for a railtour in October?” one replied: “Which October?” 6880: New-build Betton Grange was expected to have its valves and pistons fitted at the Llangollen Railway by the end of 2017, with the