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Gertrude set to enter Leighton Buzzard service in 2021
LEIGHTON Buzzard Railway (LBR) anticipates Sarah Westmacott’s Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T Gertrude (AB1578/1918 being available for service in 2021.
It arrived at the railway in February 2019.
The boiler was lifted and sent to Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough prior to the March national lockdown, and is now back at Page’s Park, where work has been undertaken on the loco’s running gear.
Five locos
Gertrude entering service will give LBR five available main line steam locos in 2021, the others being Gertrude’s sister Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T Doll (LBR) and privately owned Baldwin 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778, Avonside 0-4-0T Sezela No. 4, and O&K 0-6-0WT Pedemoura.
LBR’s O&K 0-6-0WT Elf and O&K 0-4-0WT P C Allen are out of ticket, awaiting overhaul.
Other LBR locos currently out of service and undergoing overhaul are Kerr, Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0ST Pixie and privately owned De Winton 0-4-0VBT Chaloner.
LBR’s Baguley 0-4-0T Rishra goes out of ticket in March 2021. Whether it will be available to steam for its November 2021 centenary is uncertain.