‘OPERATION FINAL PUSH’ AS 4253 BOILER GOES TO HBSS
Heritage Boiler Steam Services, builders of the new ‘Patriot’ boiler, are to complete the overhaul of the boiler for ‘42XX’ No. 4253.
The 4253 Locomotive Company, which is restoring the GWR 2-8-0T from Barry scrapyard condition at the Kent & East Sussex Railway, has decided to contract out the remainder of the boiler work in order to shorten the restoration by an estimated 18-20 months.
The group’s volunteers have already carried out a great deal of work on the boiler, including fitting a new barrel section and firebox throatplate, and has a kit of parts ready for the remaining repairs, including a new smokebox tubeplate and firebox backplate.
These and the boiler were dispatched to HBSS’ Liverpool workshops on January 20 – along with the boiler from ‘72XX’ 2-8-2T No. 7200 at Quainton
Road, which is also to be completed at HBSS.
To fund the remaining work, the 4253 group has launched ‘Operation Final Push’ to raise the required £41,000 for the boiler work and the remaining parts needed for the engine.
Shares in the locomotive are available at £250 each (payable in monthly instalments) and the group is selling a number of novelty items such as clocks and egg timers made from
No. 4253’s old boiler tubes – see www.4253.co.uk
The group has also started stripping parts from its other ex-Barry locomotive, ‘56XX’ 0-6-2T No. 5668, in preparation for its restoration.
Previously stored at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, both engines were acquired from Terry Rippingale, No. 4253 in 2011 and No. 5668 in 2012.