Pannier boosts SDR fleet

HUGH Shipton’s GWR 0-6-0PT No. 6430 has formally become a member of the South Devon Railway’s (SDR) loco pool after agreement was reached for it to be based on the line for the remainder of the current 10-year boiler ticket, which expires in February 2025.

Since its departure from Llangollen, No. 6430 has been at the SDR for contract repairs. The work was completed during December and successful test runs were carried out on Christmas Eve, allowing the ‘64XX’ to take part in the SDR’s winter steam gala, billed as ‘Mince Pies, Manor and More’ which featured visiting WR ‘Manor’

No. 7820 Dinmore Manor and resident GWR 0-6-0PT No. 1369. No. 6430 is no stranger to the SDR, having originally been bought by the Dart Valley Railway as a source of spares for Nos. 6412 and 6435 in 1966. Sold in 1989, No. 6430 was restored by its current owner after it was heavily stripped, returning to action in 2003.

ROBERT SHERWOOD MAKING THE MOST OF THE MANOR: Visiting from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, No. 7820 Dinmore Manor emerges from the trees at Stretchford during a TimeLine Events photographic charter at the South Devon Railway on January 4.