71000 Duke of Gloucester returns to steam

ONE-OFF BR Standard ‘8P’ No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester is “on target to return to the main line during the first half of 2024,” the chairman of its owning group has said, as its long-awaited overhaul nears completion.

The 1954-built Riddles ‘Pacific’, which last steamed in 2012, reached a major milestone in its decade-long overhaul on December 3 when it appeared in light steam at its Tyseley Locomotive Works base for the BR Standard Class 8 Locomotive Trust’s members day, with around 70 members turning up, despite rail strikes and inclement weather.

However, despite the locomotive being in steam for the first time in 11 years, “there are far too many jobs to list” before No. 71000 re-enters service, trust chairman Trevor Tuckley told Steam Railway in December. “The boiler inspector will be examining the boiler at its working pressure this week. It is planned to paint the ‘Duke’ as the last operation.”

With the overhaul on the brink of completion, the trust has reiterated the need to raise £20,000 to cover the cost of the new middle connecting rod, after small cracks were discovered in the original component. Replacing the rod “has involved the ordering of a new forging along with a complicated machining process. This was an unexpected and unplanned expenditure which has cost £6,000 for the forging and £14,000 for the finishing, which has included heat treatment and retesting. In line with our prudent financial controls, we have been able to cover this cost but as you would expect it has reduced our planned financial float,” said Tuckley.

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