THE ROSTER
LOCOMOTIVES IN FOCUS
GWR & CONSTITUENTS
2807: With 42,068 miles on the clock since its return to steam from Barry scrapyard condition in 2010, and a total mileage of 1,514,755 since its construction in 1905, the oldest working GWRdesign locomotive in preservation bowed out of service at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway on New Year’s Day. The Churchward ‘28XX’ 2-8-0’s last steaming days were November 30/December 1 and December 31/January 1.
Little more than a fortnight later, its owning group, Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd, had begun dismantling it for overhaul, with the boiler cladding, cab roof and cab fittings all removed, and the tubes being extracted from the boiler.
Volunteer Roger Molesworth said: “The tubes are in excellent condition, even after their ten years of service – they still looked to have five years of use in them, entirely thanks to our water treatment.”
The overhaul of the boiler has been contracted to Riley & Son (E) Ltd. Said Mr Molesworth: “The boiler lift was planned for May, but at the current rate of progress it is more likely that we shall lift it out in March. The plan is to send it to Riley’s in May ready for a June start.
“It’s looking likely that we shall need a new smokebox, as it has wasted in a couple of areas. We shan’t know for certain until it is off the boiler.”
To raise funds for the overhaul, CSP is selling shares at £150 each (payable in monthly instalments) and has set up a ‘2807 Hundred Club’ with cash prizes in a monthly draw. For details, visit http://gwr2807.blogspot.com – donations will also be welcomed by its supporting charity, the 2807 Freight Locomotive Association (http://2807fla.blogspot.com). 3850: New cylinder castings for Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd’s ‘2884’ 2-8-0 were completed by Roach Engineering of Brierley Hill in December, following the engine’s replacement front extension frames, which the same firm had produced and machined in September.
At the engine’s Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway base, said DMLL vice-chairman Mike Solloway: “It’s all hands to the pump now to get the new front end built, upside down just as Swindon used to do, and then to get the front end fitted and accurately optically aligned within the frames. As you might imagine, this is a costly stage in 3850’s overhaul and anyone who would like to donate towards these works can do so via: www.dinmoremanor.co.uk/ donations-and-payments/
“Meanwhile, the wheelsets are ready and waiting and the boiler is at an advanced stage, the firebox end being complete and a new front barrel section almost ready for fitting. Progress!”
The locomotive’s Churchward 3,500-gallon tender, No. 1761, is now fully re-wheeled, having been sitting on its centre and trailing
wheelsets for some time awaiting the fitting of the vacuum brake cylinder. With the latter in place, the leading wheelset could also be installed, while the inside of its tank has been cleaned and the outside has received a coat of ‘works photographic grey’ undercoat.
5553: Last steamed in April 2012, this Collett ‘4575’ 2-6-2T – the last locomotive to leave Barry scrapyard – made a big step closer towards returning to traffic on January 21, when it was placed back on its wheels for the first time in two years at Peak Rail.
Waterman Railway Heritage Trust spokesman Andrew Civil said: “It has had repairs to the axleboxes and crowns, its springs overhauled, new tyres on the pony truck wheels and a chassis clean up and inspection.
“The boiler has had two thirds of a new throatplate owing to pitting, some cracks welded up on the inner firebox and some stay and rivet replacement, new superheater flues and smoke tubes too. There are some issues to be tackled before a hydraulic and steam test can be carried out, but we are not that far away.”
Mr Civil added that he hoped to have the steam test done by Easter. Once in service, No. 5553 will run primarily at Peak Rail, but when the locomotive fleet expands “then perhaps 5553 will be allowed onto the hire circuit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the overhaul has commenced on Pete Waterman’s ‘5205’ 2-8-0T No. 5224. Mr Civil said: “It has been partially stripped, the bunker is removed from the chassis for platework repairs, and the chassis is being lifted to remove the driving wheels for tyre replacement and then a full chassis inspection.
“The boiler is out, needle gunned in readiness for an NDT inspection and the tubes removed.”
The restoration of Mr Waterman’s third Swindon tank, ‘56XX’ No. 6634, has yet to begin in earnest but, said Mr Civil, “it has had a coat of paint to protect her, front buffers sourced and fitted to allow for shunting. It is in line for restoration after 5224 is done.”
The other steam locomotive at Mr Waterman’s Peak Rail base is ex-South African Railways Beyer Peacock ‘NG/G16’ 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 109. Mr Civil said: “It is on site at Rowsley. The major parts have been re-assembled, and it is sheeted over, awaiting its turn in the queue, but it is last in the pecking order I’m afraid.”
SR & CONSTITUENTS
34059: Work has commenced on the bottom-end overhaul of rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ Sir Archibald Sinclair at the Bluebell Railway, with the valve gear dismantled, the pistons and valves removed, and their condition being assessed. On the boiler, 85% of the stays have been fitted to the backhead and both sides of the new firebox, and the stay holes are now being drilled in the throatplate, while new smoke tubes and superheater flue tubes have been ordered for delivery early this year.
BR STANDARD
70013: Just five months after being lifted off the wheels, Oliver Cromwell’s frames were placed back onto the driving wheelsets in December. The superheater header has also been removed from the ‘Britannia’s’ boiler.
92212: Jeremy Hosking’s ‘9F’ ran for the last time at
the Mid-Hants Railway on December 30, before being withdrawn from service on the expiry of its ‘ten-year’ boiler certificate. Peter Greenwood of Locomotive Services Ltd said that the Riddles 2-10-0 will initially be taken to the Locomotive Storage Ltd facility inMargate while it awaits a slot in the organisation’s Crewe works, where the boiler from former ‘Barry Ten’ classmate No. 92245 is already being overhauled in preparation for fitting to No. 92212.