‘Monster’ back in September

A return to steam in September is estimated for Peckett ‘OQ’ 0-6-0ST ‘Mardy Monster’, four years after it was withdrawn from traffic at the Elsecar Heritage Railway. Volunteers on the Yorkshire line expect to complete the ‘rolling chassis’ during April or May and, with the boiler back on site after overhaul by Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough, reassembly of the 1954-built locomotive is expected to follow swiftly. ‘Mardy Monster’ is the sole survivor of three ‘OQ’ class Pecketts. At 55 tons, and equivalent in tractive effort to a BR ‘7F’, they were the largest steam locomotive type ever built by the Bristol firm for the domestic market.