‘SNG’ IS BACK IN BLACK
Why ‘A4’ is dressed for battle
IT ISN’T INTENDED FOR CLOSE SCRUTINY… IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT LENT ITSELF TO US
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A4’ No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley has been turned out in a wartime LNER black livery ahead of its move to Locomotive Services Limited’s Crewe base for the completion of its overhaul.
The wartime livery and ‘4498’ cabside numbers are a “temporary arrangement and it isn’t intended for close scrutiny, but it is an opportunity that lent itself to us,” Nigel Wilson, chairman of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust told Steam Railway, adding that the temporary livery has been applied to protect the ‘A4’ during transportation by road to LSL’s workshop.
However, Wilson added: “We recognise the interest, so there will be an opportunity for members to see it at an event, but it is not intended to do more than that.”
It is likely that No. 60007 will have moved by the time this issue hits shelves; speaking to SR on August 29, Wilson said the move was two or three weeks away. The group had been based at the National Railway
Museum’s workshop since November 2015 but had been given notice to leave the workshop by the end of August so the NRM could convert the facility into its planned
Wonderlab educational gallery (SR521).
Wilson said he is targeting a spring 2022 return to traffic for the locomotive, adding that, although the locomotive “is less complete than it looks”, the overhaul is in the final stages.
“There are a few things that need to be finished off. We also need to do another hydraulic test in order to reset the boiler certificate and a steam test, so there are a number of things that need to be finished off,” he added.
Sir Nigel Gresley’s support coach is currently at Barrow Hill and a waste retention tank is currently being fitted, Wilson added, and the intention is that it will be back in service at the same time as the ‘A4’.