This week, the Great Laxey Mine Railway, on the Isle of Man, has given an update on their locomotives after the winter period.

Bee has returned from Alan Keef’s workshop after a wheel came loose on the front axle. Other work has been completed including the coupling rod drive pins, which were not equal distance on both driving wheels. Both issues found would seem to have been down to the manufacture of the loco back in 2004.

Since returning, and before reassembly, the fusible plug on the locomotive broke when being removed. Due to the yacht type boiler, the remains have proven difficult to remove.

Locomotive Ant has given good service this season and has been assisted by Wasp when needed.

Both Ant and Bee are due to have their annual boiler inspection which is hoped will be carried out once Bee’s fusible plug issue has been resolved so that they can be tested at the same time. This is hoped to be in March, cutting it a bit short for opening at the end of the month.

Update: The Boiler Inspection has been carried out now, with only one minor failure – one of the safety valves will need replacing, which is now in hand.

Ant has been successfully steamed with only the mechanical lubricator playing up.

Bee was steamed on the 12th March 2018 after the remains of the plug were removed and the hole retapped to the correct thread. Again, a few problems, but the railway has a fully working engine.

Bee should have a steam test this weekend.

Wasp has been sluggish over the last year or so, and the railway nor believes the cause of this is one of the batteries may have failed. The railway is now waiting for a load tester to identify the faulty. Until then, the engine is soldiering on is giving good service.

Update: The load tester proved the batteries are ok but are beginning to become tired.

The railway has secured a deal on the batteries which are on their way to the Isle of Man.

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