THE return to steam of the sole surviving ‘N7’ 0-6-2T moved a step closer at the East Anglia Railway Museum (EARM) on July 1, following the dispatch of the boiler to contractor HBSS in Liverpool.
Dismantling of the loco, which last ran at the Churnet Valley Railway in April 2015, commenced at the end of June 2020. The work is primarily being undertaken at the EARM’s Chappel & Wakes Colne site by younger volunteers, with support from those who’ve worked on it previously.
“As with the restoration of any steam loco, the boiler is the key. Unfortunately for the ‘N7’, a lot of work is required on it,” Michael Sanders, EARM locomotive manager told The RM.
“There is some minor building up to do on the front tubeplate and we’re relatively pleased with the condition of the barrel. It’s gone into the HBSS workshop to have the firebox split from the barrel.