257 SQUADRON CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF AT SWANAGE GALA
‘Battle of Britain’ duo to star at Swanage ‘1948 Exchange Trials’ gala as No. 34072 returns.
Apair of ‘Battle of Britain’ 4-6-2s are expected to be in action at the Swanage Railway’s ‘Locomotive Exchanges 1948’ Autumn Steam Gala on October 12-14, following the return to steam of No. 34072 257 Squadron.
The air-smoothed ‘Spam Can’ pulled its first train in 15 years on September 26, but it is planned to give it an official launch back into traffic during the 1948 Locomotive Exchange Trials-themed event, where it will appear alongside visiting ‘Princess Coronation’ No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and former Swanage stablemate BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80078.
‘BB’ No. 34072 should be joined by Southern Locomotives Ltd classmate No. 34053 Sir Keith Park, which returns to steam after three months out of service following repairs to its ‘bottom end’ (SR481).
SLL Chairman Simon Troy said: “The rods are going back on ‘SKP’ as we speak, so hopefully its appearance is a done deal.”
Commenting on why it has taken over a year to recommission 257 Squadron into service following its overhaul, Mr Troy said: “The locomotive has taken longer to return to traffic than anticipated, following its early departure from the limited space we have in the Swanage Railway’s Herston Works in August 2017.
“This was a necessity as
No. 34028 Eddystone had to be transferred from Tyseley following ‘bottom end’ work. With no undercover accommodation,
working next to a busy running line and [being] dependent on the use of a pit which is constantly in use by the running fleet has proved extremely difficult.
“We have also had several unpredictable problems with many of the new items, ranging from injectors to brake cylinders which
have taken time to fix. We have concluded that it is essential that Eddystone is steamed at Herston, however difficult that may be, as the works are not connected to the railway. At least with a static steaming, some of the obvious faults will be identified prior to transfer to the railway, which is still planned for late 2019.”