Industrial Steam
THE Nene Valley Railway’s
(NVR) restoration of Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Derek Crouch (1539/1924) has received a significant cash boost following the awarding of a £20,000 grant by the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA).
The project is being undertaken by the railway’s Small Loco Group, which had previously completed a full cosmetic overhaul of the exWissington Light Railway loco, and which recently completed a similar project on former Nassington ironstone Hunslet 0-6-0ST Jacks Green.
Since the restoration was green lit by the NVR board, the Small Loco Group has been working hard to get the locomotive back in steam in time for its 100th anniversary in 2024. Currently the loco is in a stripped-down state in the NVR’s Wansford workshops; a recent milestone being the removal of the loco’s cylinder block, which is to be renewed having been declared unfit for further use. The old cylinder block was found to be cracked and wasted in crucial areas.
Boiler
The boiler is to be overhauled in-house, with much of the required work being focused on the firebox. Much of the right-hand side of the outer wrapper will be replaced but, following talks with the boiler inspector, it is planned to build up the plate in areas that need it on the left side, rather than replace the entire side.
Derek Crouch holds a special place in the hearts of the NVR’s supporters, having first come to the railway on loan from Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd in 1972. It went on to work the line’s first preservation era train in 1974, but has not run since 1982.
A ‘Steam Our Saddle Tank’ appeal is running to help fund the restoration, in which supporters can make a one-off donation of £50, £100, or £200 in return for a string of incentives. For more information contact the Small Loco Group via nvrsmalllocogroup@gmail.com.