Overhauls, restorations and running notes

GWR & CONSTITUENTS

The boiler of the Taff Vale ‘O1’ (below) is due to be lifted from its frames by crane early in 2022, following preparatory work in the run-up to Christmas as part of its mechanical overhaul. The jobs involved removing the boiler crinolines, front running plate cover, cast sand boxes and boiler-to-tank brackets. The cab has also been freed from the bunker and tanks.

There was a nice Christmas present for the Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall, with the news during mid-December that the ‘Hall’ now looks a lot more like a complete steam engine again, thanks to its restored boiler and firebox being finally reunited with the rolling chassis at Bridgnorth Works boiler shop. The first steaming of Hagley Hall has now moved significantly closer, although the Friends also acknowledge that much work remains to be finalised in the next few months before that landmark is achieved.

The ‘5101’ class locomotive is to stay at the West

Somerset Railway throughout the 2022 season, extending its original planned residency by a year. The 5199 Project’s ‘Large Prairie’ arrived at the WSR in December 2020, with the intention being to move it again at the end of 2021. However, the new commitment will now involve it operating on the line until December 31 2022, with a minimum of 50 steaming days as part of the agreement. No. 5199 is currently undergoing maintenance to prepare it for its busy year ahead.

Pete Waterman’s ‘4575’ 2-6-2T worked its first revenueearning trains since returning to steam after its recent ‘ten-year’ overhaul at Peak Rail in early December, hauling the line’s Santa specials. The Collett ‘Small Prairie’ returned to steam at the Derbyshire line in October, and has been painted in BR unlined black (early crest). The 1928-built locomotive sported an electric smokebox headlight for its appearance on Peak Rail’s Santa specials.

SR & CONSTITUENTS

Great Central Railwaybased rebuilt ‘West Country’

Boscastle is a significant step closer to steaming after its tender was united with its new tank at Loughborough on December 2. The tender frames were also re-wheeled the same day, during which several locomotives on the west road of Loughborough shed were drawn out to provide access for the road crane which lifted Boscastle’s tender tank onto its frames.

‘Battle of Britain’

Sir Keith Park was temporarily stripped of its identity over the Christmas period, in order to work ‘Polar Express’ trains on the Spa Valley Railway. The front numberplate and nameplates were removed, while the cabside numbers and BR tender crest were covered over and replaced by ‘Pere Marquette’, the US/Canadian railroad whose ‘N1’ 2-6-4 locomotive was the

inspiration behind The Polar Express book and 2004 Warner Bros movie. The SVR sold an impressive 33,000 tickets for the seasonal services.

Work on rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ Sir Archibald Sinclair continues at the Bluebell Railway. The ‘Pacific’ is a six-coupled machine once again following the fitting of its coupling rods, while the connecting rods are being cleaned before being refitted. All the firebox crown stays have been screwed in and knocked over on the outside, and the flexible stays around the base of the diaphragm have been fitted.

LMS & CONSTITUENTS

The first phase of chassis reassembly work has been completed on new-build ‘Patriot’ The Unknown Warrior with the outside cylinders, inside motion brackets, spring and brake hanger brackets and horn guides removed from the frames. The inside cylinder has also been prepared for removal later in the reassembly sequence. The frames have now been placed on accommodation bogies, to allow treatment to be completed outside of the Midland Railway – Butterley’s West Shed. Meanwhile, Heritage Boiler Steam Services has completed the slide bar stud work on the boiler and is advancing with the fitting of the transverse stays. Leaky Finders has undercoated the tender frames and trial-fitted the spring links. Members of the LMS-Patriot Project have also had a first meeting with DB Cargo to discuss operating 5551 on the main line once it is complete. The meeting was described as a ‘constructive opening dialogue’.

A new bufferbeam has been fabricated for ‘Black Five’ No. 44806 (above) at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Much of the ‘bottom end’ work is complete, with its boiler currently being overhauled by Riley & Son (E) Ltd at Bury. It is expected to return to traffic by 2023.

LNER & CONSTITUENTS

The Midland & Great Northern Railway Joint Railway Society has published a new book, A Pictorial History of the B12s, to specifically raise funds for the ten-year overhaul of its own ‘B12’ on the North Norfolk Railway. The 168-page book, with 230 photos, covers the history of the class in East Anglia, the Midlands and Scotland, and costs £23.95. A donation will be made towards 8572’s overhaul for every book sold. See www. mandgn.org/post/a-pictorialhistory-of-the-b12s for more info.

Tornado will be taking part in the Great Central Railway’s East Coast Weekend on January 15/16, following its premature withdrawal from main line service in November after developing tender wheel flats. The ‘A1’ will be joined by BR ‘5MT’ No. 73156 for the event, intended to recreate the atmosphere of the early to mid-1960s. Other GCR services are also planned during January, before No. 60163 undergoes an intermediate overhaul, during which the required new tyres will be fitted. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has launched The Overhaul Club to help raise £50,000 towards the work. See www.a1steam.com/ the-overhaul-club for details.

The ‘K1’ has been confirmed for 2022’s ‘Jacobite’ services between Fort William and Mallaig, alongside ‘Black Five’ No. 45407. West Coast Railways will operate the popular tourist trains from April 4 through to October 28, with afternoon services supplementing the morning ones over the 84-mile Scottish route from May 2 to September 30.

BR STANDARD

Work continues on this BR Standard Four 4-6-0 at Grosmont MPD on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The boiler has received new copper firebox sides and other metal work, and is being fully overhauled, while the frames and running gear are in good condition, having not had much use before the engine was withdrawn from traffic with firebox issues.