CYLINDERS AND WHEELS FIRST FOR L&B MANNING WARDLES YEO AND EXE
Construction of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’s replica Manning Wardle 2-6-2Ts Yeo and Exe is imminent – with the cylinders set to be the first major parts built.
The cylinders for replicas of Nos. 759 and 760 will be the first big bits of metal for the new-build locomotives; the £1.1 million project to resurrect them was exclusively revealed by Steam Railway in August 2018 (SR483) and officially launched at the L&B’s autumn gala on September 29/30 that year (SR485).
Since then, work has been continuing in the background and primarily focused on fundraising, but with around £100,000 on hand, “funding has been successful and we already have a most useful sum in the bank to allow initial work to begin,” said L&B trust chairman Peter Miles.
Following a project meeting on November 15, plans to get the build under way were agreed and the initial phase of work will be acquiring the cylinders, wheels and motion for the 2-6-2T pair.
Speaking in mid-December, Mr Miles said: “The new cylinders will be almost identical to those fitted to [2010-built L&B Manning Wardle 2-6-2T No. E190] Lyd, and the cylinder patterns have already been sent out to obtain firm quotes for the main castings, including end covers.”
Depending on the quotes received, five sets of cylinders may be cast, for planned replicas of Nos. 761 Taw and E188 Lew, as well as a spare set for Lyd.
Mr Miles added: “Work is in hand to prepare computer aided design drawings from the originals to assist in getting components machined for motion in the first instance. This should enable production to be dealt with in a similar fashion to that on [2017-built L&B Baldwin 2-4-2T No. E762] Lyn. The intention is to start cutting metal in the new year.”
Both driving and pony truck wheels are also set to be cast shortly, with “quotes and orders to be placed as soon as reasonable, while the tyres will also be ordered,” said Mr Miles. He added that future plans for construction were still being drawn up, but that “the rate of acquisition of items and the rate of progress will depend on the rate of fundraising.”
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●● Ffestiniog Railway-based Lyd will have been withdrawn for overhaul by the time this issue goes on sale
– but is expected back in traffic with a new ‘ticket’ this summer.
Although its ‘ticket’ officially expires in May, it was due to be taken out of service on January 1 as “there’s not much point running it for a couple of months and then losing it for the rest of the year when we can potentially get it back out for the high summer season,” said Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Locomotive Manager Phil Brown.
He added: “I suspect it’ll be the normal ten-year re-tube and probably not much else. There is a need to do the right-hand cylinder as it has a terrific blow on it.”