Spring steaming planned for East Lancs’ Sentinel
SENTINEL 4wVBT Ann (7232/1927) is expected to steam at its East Lancashire Railway home during the spring following a rapid overhaul by its new owners.
The former British Tar Products, Cadishead, locomotive only moved to Bury from its longtime home at Embsay in July of last year, and within a week was running on compressed air.
Since then the owners have conducted a comprehensive overhaul including fitting a new cab floor and various platework repairs, a complete overhaul of all boiler fittings and pipework, plus the fitment of a brand new vacuum brake system and ejector allowing it to be used on passenger trains.
The vertical boiler required a new firebox, but by a stroke of luck one of the owners was put in touch with someone who had a spare Sentinel steam waggon boiler in the back yard of a garage in Ilkley. This boiler was of the correct size and pattern for Ann, and a deal was struck for its purchase. At the time of writing it was midway through overhaul and was expected to have held water by the time this issue went on sale, Covid permitting.
The loco has also lost the pseudo-LMS black livery it carried at Embsay, and has been fully repainted in deep bronze green, complete with signwritten lettering copied from old photos of the loco at work.
If current progress is maintained the owners plan to have Ann in steam this spring.
Although too small for general ELR operations, is hoped that the Sentinel will find use on light duties such as brakevan rides and shunting duties during steam galas and other events.