THREE ‘56XXS’ TO REUNITE AT SWINDON & CRICKLADE MARCH GALA
Three ‘56XX’ 0-6-2Ts will feature in the Swindon & Cricklade Railway’s gala on March 28/29 – with at least two in steam.
The remarkable gathering is made possible by the planned return of former resident No. 5637, for its last steaming days before its boiler certificate expires in April.
It will join No. 5619, which is currently on loan to the SCR from the Telford Steam Railway, and No. 6695, which arrived at Blunsdon in December as a new resident – making the SCR the first line in preservation to host three of the Welsh Valleys engines simultaneously.
Both Nos. 5619 and 5637 will be in operation for the gala, while No. 6695’s appearance in steam is dependent upon its overhaul being completed in time.
The only previous occasion when two ‘56XXs’ steamed together in preservation was at the East Somerset Railway in April 2007, with Nos. 5637 and 6695.
SCR publicity manager Allan Bott said: “We plan to have all three ready for our gala, but it’s an ‘as and when’ scenario. If 6695 isn’t complete, she’ll be on display for sure.
“There’s also talk of having a ‘Small Prairie’ to supplement… we’re hoping that the theme of the gala will be ‘Three Taffs and little Prairie’ but we’ll see.”
Originally restored from Barry scrapyard condition and first steamed at the SCR in 1998, No. 5637 has since been resident at the East Somerset Railway, where it is due to make its final appearance in steam at that line’s gala on March 21/22.
However, the SCR and the engine’s owning 5637 Steam
Locomotive Group have come to an agreement for its forthcoming overhaul to be undertaken at the Wiltshire line, with a projected completion date of 2022. The locomotive will then remain as a permanent resident “for the foreseeable future”, said Mr Bott.
The 5637 Steam Locomotive Group needs to raise £20,000 to cover a shortfall in its funds for the overhaul. Secretary Lawrence Moss explained: “At the end of 5637’s overhaul in 2010, the ESR proposed hiring 5637 for a tenyear period at a steaming fee that was nearly half the commercial rate, but with the assurance that the funds accumulated would be sufficient to cover the ESR’s charge of approximately £116,000 for the next overhaul in 2020.
“These funds included a £20k ‘top-up’ that the ESR would provide if needed, on condition that the 2020 overhaul was carried out by the ESR.” In the event, the Somerset line declined to carry out this overhaul, meaning that this sum will now not be forthcoming.
Shares in No. 5637 can be purchased at £250 each (payable in monthly instalments of £25) with shareholders permitted to ride on the engine’s footplate and drive it during exclusive days at the SCR. For details, visit https://5637.co.uk/join-us/