Hagley Hall to star in SVR spring gala?
GREAT strides continue to be made towards the return to action of the Severn Valley Railway’s flagship GWR ‘Hall’ No. 4930 Hagley Hall, which last steamed in October 1986. It is hoped the 4-6-0 could be back in traffic in time for the April 21-24 spring steam gala. Having passed all steam tests in the yard at Bridgnorth, by mid-November the boiler was in the boiler shop having the lagging and casing fitted in final preparation for it to be reunited with its rolling chassis. Some recently painted boiler panels were being fitted – a task which is easier to undertake when the boiler is on the ground rather than on the chassis. The application of top-coat, lining, and varnish to the tender is now complete, revealing the chosen GWR lined ‘shirtbutton’ livery that was carried by No. 4930 in the final years of its previous working life on the SVR between July 1984 and October 1986. The colour scheme is not currently carried by any other preserved GWR ‘Hall’. Meanwhile, GWR ‘28XX’ 2-8-0 No. 2857 is ‘stopped’ for repairs identified as part of its accumulated mileage-driven valve and piston exam – work which is not expected to be completed before the Santa services commence. Having been retubed, 0-6-0ST No. 813 has gone on hire to the Telford Steam Railway for the Christmas period where it will work alongside ‘56XX’ No. 5619. BR ‘4MT’ 4-6-0 No. 75069 is the Steam in Lights loco this year. New-build BR ‘3MT’ 2-6-2T No. 82045 continues to progress at Bridgnorth. The two pony trucks were loaded on to a flat wagon on October 18 and shunted to the loco yard. The pony trucks will be fitted under the chassis when the wheeldrop is available. Plugs are being fitted to the piston heads and some further machining of boiler water level gauge components is taking place. Grease lubrication pipework is being installed to the horn guides of the coupled wheels. Further progress has been made with assembly of the rocking grate mechanism. On the firebox, the pads for the manifold and safety valves are riveted and seal welded in place. The mud door doubling plates are riveted in place.