Southern Locomotives Ltd (SLL) have published the latest news on their fleet of seven steam engines.

34010 “Sidmouth”

Recent work has been at contractors, the North Norfolk Railway, who will be restoring 34010’s boiler.

The company have therefore been organising the sourcing of new parts needed to get the boiler back into working order.

Meanwhile, the frame awaits to be moved into Herston Works, which will happen once 34028 is completed.

34028 “Eddystone”

SLL plan to return “Eddystone” to traffic in Summer 2020, providing outstanding work goes to timescale. This includes reuniting the boiler and rolling chassis in roughly three months time. The smokebox has been painted and is receiving all its fittings. Staff have also been reassembling the motion, pistons etc. Equally important is the pipework which supplies the lubrication across the locomotive, which is also being refitted at the moment. The boiler although off-site is being prepared for cladding to be fitted.

34053 “Sir Keith Park”

Bottom-end work at Tyseley Locomotive Works has been finished. To save time, the cold boiler inspection will be carried out at Tyseley where 34053 will also take part in their upcoming Open Weekend (More information here). All going to plan, “Sir Keith Park” should be back on the Swanage Railway in late September.

34070 “Manston”

With 34053’s repairs complete, work can focus on “Manston” at Tyseley. This has seen the engine moved into the workshop, where staff will strip 34070. SSL has contracted Tyseley to carry out an overhaul on the boiler and bottom-end, with everything else being done in-house by the SSL team.

34072 “257 Squadron” and 80104

Both engines have been in revenue earning service on the Swanage Railway, with no major issues reported. 80104’s current boiler ticket ends in 2021 when the locomotive will be withdrawn. Similar to “Sir Keith Park”, the biggest work needed will be on the boiler, as bottom-end work has been carried out over the past few years.

“Norman”

The task of overhauling “Norman” is continuing well, to the extent the company hopes the tank will be ready for service in 2020. More work has been done than first anticipated, plus no agreements have been made so far on who will hire “Norman”. Anyone or railway interested in hiring “Norman”, please get in contact with Southern Locomotives Ltd.

For more information or support the fleet, please visit Southern Locomotives Ltd’s website here.

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