The Roster
Overhauls, restorations and running notes
GWR & CONSTITUENTS
2807
The tender wheels for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway-based ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 have returned from contract repairs at the South Devon Railway. They are currently being stored outside at Toddington, until the Cotswold Steam Preservation group is ready to fit them.
2857
The Severn Valley Railway-based Churchward ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 has received a six-month extension to its boiler ticket, enabling it to remain in service on the SVR until the end of the year. The 2857 Society said: “As per normal, the usual condition of ‘subject to availability’ applies, but we hope to see her on out on regular SVR services, the Autumn Gala and Santa services before her time on this ticket comes to an end.”
3802
Fresh from tyreturning, the Llangollen Railway-based Collett ‘2884’ 2-8-0 is due to have its bottom end reassembled over the summer, along with its overhauled tender brake gear. The plan is to have it back in service towards the end of the season. As ‘56XX’ No. 5619 will be returning to the Telford Steam Railway later in 2022, it is expected that No. 3802 will be in charge of Llangollen’s Christmas services.
3814
Early in June, the ‘2884’ 2-8-0’s finished tender (below) was loaded at Northern Steam Engineering Ltd in Stockton and transported to Tyseley Locomotive Works and into the care of the Betton Grange Society, which will initially use it behind its new-build ‘Grange’ No. 6880 Betton Grange after it has been repainted into green. No. 3814’s owners are hopeful that the tender hire agreement will start soon, “as funds are required to replenish 3814’s restoration budget after the major expense of completing the tender,” said co-owner Pauline Robinson. She added: “The start of work will be delayed. The new tyres are in stock at the South Devon Railway but we are waiting for a chance of a shared crane lift to remove the boiler from its frames to help with costs.” To support the restoration, visit www.gwr3814.co.uk
4270
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway-based Churchward ‘42XX’ 2-8-0T has been confirmed as the guest locomotive for the North Norfolk Railway’s Bank Holiday Steam Gala on August 27-29. The heavy freight tank will work alongside five members of the NNR’s home fleet during the event, which will have an intensive timetable, featuring selected double-heading, non-stop expresses, local stoppers and demonstration goods trains. The NNR also hopes to have a second visiting engine for the event, in addition to No. 4270.
4277
The Dartmouth Steam Railway’s ‘42XX’ returned to steam at the beginning of July following overhaul. Its inaugural trips involved several test runs with its sibling, No. 5239 ‘Goliath’, between Paignton and Kingswear. The locomotive has yet to be reunited with its ‘Hercules’ nameplates.
4561
Although it was envisaged that the West Somerset Railway’s Churchwood ‘45XX’ would be a rolling chassis by now, the need for the pistons to be recast and the wait for the tyres to return from Tyseley Works has thrown its heavy overhaul at Williton somewhat behind schedule. In the meantime, the focus has been on completing smaller jobs.
4709
The project to recreate a Churchward ‘47XX’ 2-8-0 is seeking fresh blood to push its work forward. The ‘Night Owl’ now has two fully machined cylinders, a renovated and re-engineered pony truck and counterweight, and a new braking system. The next move is to mount these items on the chassis, which should then allow the engine’s wheels to go on. However, with only a small core team of volunteers, the hope is that those who have been working on other new-builds now close to completion might now wish to assist with the construction of the ‘Night Owl’. For more info, see www.4709.org.uk
5553
The Peak Rail-based Collett 2-6-2T has been confirmed as the visiting guest locomotive for the Northampton & Lamport Railway’s Summer Gala on August 27-29. This will be the first time the BR black ‘Small Prairie’ has visited another railway since it returned to steam at Peak Rail following overhaul late last year (SR527).
6024
“Hopes are high” that ‘King’ No. 6024 King Edward I “will be completed by the autumn,” said 6024 Preservation Society press officer Dave Fuszard, when the Collett fourcylinder 4-6-0 was displayed at the society’s AGM at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway on July 2. “Contractors will be used to finish off the air-braking system and the electrical safety installation. Pipework and instruments/gauges etc in the cab are all but completed, and a new cab floor has been trial fitted. Volunteers have made good progress on the fitting and painting of the boiler cladding. A new ashpan sprinkler system has been fitted using stainless steel pipes for durability,” he added.
6989
‘Modified Hall’ Wightwick Hall visited the Bluebell Railway for its Model Railway Weekend on July 2/3. While nominally based at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, the Hawksworth 4-6-0 has spent much of 2020 and 2021 on loan to the Battlefield Line, but has recently been back at Quainton Road for firebox repairs (SR532). It is anticipated that No. 6989 will remain at the Bluebell through to its ‘Giants of Steam’ gala on October 14-16.
7754
The ten-year overhaul of the ‘57XX’ pannier continues at Llangollen, with the hydraulic test for the boiler getting ever closer. The steam pipes have now been fitted and the tanks
test-filled, with only a few minor leaks found that require sorting out. The overhaul remains on track for completion next year.
9681
The tanks and chimney were re-fitted to the Dean Forest Locomotive Group’s ‘57XX’ during mid-June, courtesy of Western Steam Engineering and the group’s volunteers. A spokesman said: “The pannier is starting to resemble a completed engine now, with pipework and final painting to be completed next.”
SR & CONSTITUENTS
928
Stowe, the Bluebell Railway-based ‘Schools’, was delivered to JM Steam Engineering Ltd on June 23 for contract work to its cylinders and valve chests, which will be followed by fitting of liners to the outer cylinders and installation of new piston heads and valve heads. Meanwhile, the Maunsell 4-4-0’s copper tubeplate and doorplate have been welded up and trial-fitted to the firebox wrapper at Heritage Boiler Steam Services so that holes can be drilled in the flanges.
34046
A Steam Dreams tour in August will honour the driver who drove the company’s first ever ‘Cathedrals Express’ tour in 2000, using ‘West Country’ No. 34046 Braunton. ‘The Colin Kerswill Memorial’, on August 11, will run from Canterbury around the Kent coast, in tribute to the steam driver and traction inspector who died earlier this year. It will be the first visit of the rebuilt Bulleid ‘Light Pacific’ to the Kent coast for several years, and members of Colin’s family will be among the passengers.
34081
A new batch of firebars have been ordered for the Nene Valley Railway’s ‘Battle of Britain’ after it was discovered that some of its current ones were starting to fail. Some damage to the centre ashpan hopper has also been found, caused by what is assumed to have been a small fire in the ashpan, so plans are being made to fabricate a new centre hopper section that can be made ready for fitting when 92 Squadron is next out of traffic.
LMS & CONSTITUENTS
5551
Two of the six new replacement driving wheels for new build ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior have now been completed by William Cook Cast Products in Sheffield, to replace the ones on which cracks were found. Once they have been tested and inspected, the remaining wheels will be manufactured.
13268
A warming fire was lit in the firebox of the Stanier Mogul Fund’s 2-6-0 for the first time since 2013 at Bridgnorth, on the Severn Valley Railway, on July 7. A further fire was lit the following day. “Assuming no major issues arise, this will soon be followed by the boiler’s formal steam test, said a spokesperson for the fund.
52322
Andy Booth’s Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 1896-built ‘Class 27’ 0-6-0 has moved on loan to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for the summer months until early September. The Aspinall locomotive will be periodically paired with the railway’s L&Y Directors’ Saloon No. 1 during its visit, courtesy of Stately Trains.
LNER & CONSTITUENTS
1310
The Middleton Railway-based 1891-built North Eastern Railway ‘H’ class 0-4-0T’s boiler ticket has been extended until the end of November.
60007
Sir Nigel Gresley’s return to main line tours has been postponed after a fault was discovered, whereby steam seemed to be intermittently passing the regulator. The fault is believed to be either the joint between the main steam pipe and the front tubeplate or at the tubeplate end of the steam pipe. In order to get at the fault, substantial disassembly of the smokebox is required, which will mean the ‘A4’ is likely to be out of service until later this summer. Because of the required work, its repaint into BR experimental blue has also been put back – it is currently in LNER wartime black.
60532
Work continues on the overhaul of Peppercorn ‘A2’ Blue Peter at Locomotive Services Ltd’s Crewe headquarters. The frames have been aligned ready to fit the axleboxes, while the middle cylinder was found to have significant cracking, and has been replaced. All the valve gear has been overhauled with new valve heads and spindles, while the original, life-expired slide bars have been replaced. The front bogie centre casting was beyond repair; a replacement has been cast and is currently being machined. The rear locomotive dragbox has been replaced, while new buffers, drawgear and shackles have been manufactured. All axles have received new tyres, while the main driving axle has had new crankpins fitted. A new tender tank has also been fabricated and fitted to the frames. Running boards and splashers have been repaired and are being riveted back onto the ‘Pacific’, and the brake gear on both the locomotive and tender has been overhauled.
BR STANDARD
73050
New material has arrived for the manufacture of two sections of pipe for the exhaust steam injector on the Nene Valley Railway’s Standard ‘5MT’, which requires forming and bending to shape.
Consequently, jigs have been made to facilitate this. Rear sections of the frames are due to receive their topcoat soon, which should allow the wheels to go back under. Meanwhile, brake gear components are being cleaned up for painting so they can also be refitted to the frames.
75078
The boiler of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway-based double-chimney BR ‘4MT’ 4-6-0 was returned to the frames at Haworth on June 23, as its overhaul continues. The lift was undertaken by the 90-year-old 1015/50 Craven 50-ton breakdown steam crane usually based at the Bahamas Locomotive Society’s engine shed at Ingrow station.
80078
The ‘Standard 4’ has returned to its home base, the Mid-Norfolk Railway, following spells at the Swanage Railway and Epping Ongar Railway. With the completion of the trackwork on the MNR, No. 80078 will work trains from Dereham to Wymondham Abbey station during weekend throughout the school holidays. “I am pleased to see 80078 back at the Mid-Norfolk Railway after its recent travels,” said MNR honorary vice resident and engine owner Stewart Robinson.
80097
A split steam tube has put the Bury Standard 4 Group’s locomotive out of action. It is the second tube to fail within three years after a full boiler rebuild by a specialist company back in 2018. The boiler inspector has ruled that all small tubes must now be replaced; they have already been removed ready for a more in-depth inspection of the boiler and the large tubes. This involved removing the running board, steam pipe cladding, main smokebox steam pipes and demolishing the firebox brick arch. The group has estimated that it will cost around £6,500 plus labour to replace the small tubes alone; at the same time, No. 80097 will not be earning any steaming fees, in what the BS4G has described as a ‘double whammy’ blow.