The Railway Magazine

Help ‘N2’ steam again

Gresley’s sole tank survivor needs your support to complete its overhaul.

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LNER ‘N2’ No. 1744 (BR No. 69523) needs £100,000 to complete its overhaul following the discovery of unexpected additional work – and the loco’s owning group is now appealing to RM readers to help return the unique 0-6-2T to steam.

Owned by the Gresley Society since 1963, No. 1744 was withdrawn from traffic at the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) for its 10-year overhaul in November 2018.

The society had planned for the work, and believed it had sufficient funds to complete the overhaul with a margin to spare for the unexpected items.

The overhaul was contracted to Northern Steam Engineerin­g in Stockton-on-Tees and began in early 2019. Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted both the timescale and the cost of materials, despite the best endeavours of Northern Steam.

The society said the number of items requiring replacemen­t has also proved to be quite exceptiona­l. These have included pony truck tyres, crankpins, safety valves, front boiler ring, firebox top and corners, superheate­r header, smokebox tubeplate and firebox tubeplate – all of which have now been dealt with.

The chassis work is mostly complete – the exception being the expansion links, which have been found to be in need of replacemen­t.

However, it has recently been discovered that the boiler requires more in-depth work than previously anticipate­d. A new firebox wrapper is needed due to cracking around the crown stays holes, together with associated backhead work.

Wastage has been found on the top of the inner firebox that was replaced only 10 years ago with a steel ’box when copper to the correct specificat­ion was unobtainab­le. Retubing and restaying is also required.

Philip Benham, Gresley

Society chairman, told the RM: “Although Northern Steam is being as helpful as possible, the stark truth is that the society now faces a huge shortfall. Therefore, we are launching an appeal to raise £100,000 to complete the work.”

When No. 1744 returns to action, it is due to work NNR trains, including those to Cromer – the necessary equipment for main line operation having already been acquired.

Donations can be made by cheque payable to The Gresley Society Trust, and sent to:

Chris Nettleton, Membership Secretary, 96 Greenfield Drive, Eaglesclif­fe, TS16 0HN.

Details of how to donate online by credit/debit card and PayPal, or by bank transfer can be found at www.gresley.org.

 ?? PHILIP BENHAM ?? The frames, motion and wheelsets of ‘N2’ 0-6-2T No. 1744 await the boiler on August 16 at Northern Steam Engineerin­g.
PHILIP BENHAM The frames, motion and wheelsets of ‘N2’ 0-6-2T No. 1744 await the boiler on August 16 at Northern Steam Engineerin­g.

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