East Lancs ‘Jinty’ WiLL stEam in 2019 – but ‘crab’ Won’t bE back untiL 2020

East Lancashire Railway‑based ‘Jinty’ No. 47324 is expected to steam again in 2019, thanks to a contract boiler overhaul – but ‘Crab’ No. 13065 is out of service until 2020.

The Fowler ‘3F’ 0‑6‑0T, which is owned by a group of ELR members, last ran in 2014. Its axleboxes are being overhauled with a view to re‑wheeling the frames in January, and the boiler is being overhauled on site at Bury’s Baron Street works by a contractor, with a projected steaming date of mid‑2019.

However, the ELR’s own ‘Crab’ was withdrawn in April with a cracked tubeplate – and the railway has taken the decision to carry out a full ‘ten‑yearly’ overhaul, although the Hughes‑Fowler ‘Mogul’ only emerged from its last ‘heavy general’ in 2014.

The boiler has been sent to Riley & Son (E) Ltd at Heywood for repairs which will include a replacement front barrel section and smokebox tubeplate, giving it a new ‘ten‑year’ certificate; while the opportunity is being taken to fettle the 2‑6‑0’s running gear at Bury, with the wheels sent to the Severn Valley Railway for tyre turning, new springs fitted and the axleboxes overhauled. It is not expected to be ready for traffic again until mid‑2020.

Explained ELR Financial Director David Layland: “The other option was to repair the ‘Crab’ to run for the rest of its existing boiler certificate – but then it would have been due to come out of ticket at the same time as City of Wells.” The ELR expects to complete the purchase of the Bulleid ‘West Country’ by the end of this year.

Suggestions have been put forward to repaint the ‘Crab’ into BR black, but it is likely to retain its original LMS red livery. Said Mr Layland: “It’s still up in the air at the moment, but the Crimson Lake has proved very popular.”