Sir Nigel Gresley down but not out after piston ring failure
‘A4’ NO. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley could be back in service in time for its final booked railtour of the year, despite suffering a failure in its right-hand cylinder.
The streamlined Gresley ‘Pacific’ was hauling the York-Edinburgh leg of Steam Dreams’ ‘Edinburgh Christmas Market’ railtour on November 23 when “large pieces of the piston ring became detached in the steam circuit, causing damage to the valve heads,” the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust said. Unable to continue with the tour, the BR blue 4-6-2 was subsequently towed back to Crewe on November 27.
Trust chairman Nigel Wilson told Steam Railway: “There is some damage to the valve heads and liner, so the valve heads will need to be replaced and everything realigned. Fortunately, we have spares in stock. It’s only a ring failure, so it’s frustrating but not something that is going to stop the locomotive for a long time.” He added that Sir Nigel Gresley “may be ready” for its final booked railtour of the year on December 12, “but it is too early to be sure”.
Wilson also confirmed that the incident would have no impact on No. 60007’s 2024 itinerary, which includes attending the East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Legends of Steam’ gala on March 15-17 alongside BR ‘7MT’ No. 70000 Britannia and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander.
‘Number 7’ has four railtours booked so far for 2024: King’s Cross-York and return on March 2; London-Bath and return on March 6; and Newcastle-King’s Cross on April 6 (all for Steam Dreams). Then, on May 23, the ‘A4’ will mark the 65th anniversary of its 112mph post-war speed record with a Crewe-Shap-Carlisle-Ais Gill-Crewe trip as part of Saphos Trains’ ‘Fellsman’ programme.