Two big finance aids have been offered to Southern Locomotive Ltd (SLL) by supporters to help maintain their fleet of steam engines, along with good progress on overhauling and restoring.

34010 “Sidmouth”

The first financial aid comes in the form of a long-term loan to fund the restoration of 34010’s boiler.

The plan is to restore the boiler over the next three years so it can be paired with 34053 “Sir Keith Park” to reduce the time of 34053’s overhaul due in 2022.

The engines will swap boilers, allowing 34053 to return to traffic sooner to earn money and fund repairs to 34053’s current boiler, which will hopefully not need too much work.

This is brilliant news for the company, one which should see “Sidmouth” return to steam sooner.

34028 “Eddystone”

At Herston Works, reassembly of all three expansion links is complete. The running plates have been returned to their correct positions, with various copper pipework being refitted the length of the engine. The new smokebox door has been fixed to the smokebox.

As anticipated, 34028’s boiler has been completed by the South Devon Railway before the rolling chassis is ready to accept it. Therefore the boiler is currently stored near Swanage, where it is hoped members of the cladding team can gain assess to begin getting the boiler cladding ready. The boiler and frame are planned to be reunited later this year.

34053 “Sir Keith Park”

Following on from the quick update, which can be found here, the work on journals and axleboxes for the three sets of coupled wheels is complete, with the engine due to be lowered back onto them soon. Work on overhauling both the bogie and trailing truck is due to start soon. All going to plan, 34053 should be back in service on the Swanage Railway in August.

34070 “Manston”

The second financial aid for the company is a fund match for the cost of overhauling 34070. What this means is if SLL can raise £40,000 or more, the supporter will match this amount to form a total of £80,000, the minimum predicted the cost of overhauling “Manston”.

With current resources at full capacity at Herston, the overhaul would be undertaken at Tyseley Locomotive Works, who could start work in 2020. Therefore, if funds can be raised, 34070 could be back in steam in 2021. The latest update on “Manston” can be found here.

34072 “257 Squadron”

Repairs to its own tender have been completed and are now once again running behind 34072. Any other problems have been small and the engine continues to put in good service on the Swanage Railway.

80104

Attention has been required to a few weeping stays in the locomotive’s copper firebox. No other issues have been noted and the Standard 4 Tank remains a key player in the Swanage Railway’s home fleet.

Norman

The decision has been made to overhaul “Norman”‘s boiler to last 10 years without any major renewals during its next boiler ticket. Assessments of the boiler will start soon. A set back has been found with the horn guides, which need to be replaced.

A pattern has been sourced and new guides should be forged soon. Once completed, the wheelsets with recently re-profiled tyres can be prepared to take the frame. This swift turn around should hopefully mean “Norman” can return to service next year.

For more information or to support Southern Locomotives Ltd, please visit their website here.

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