NO. 4930 Hagley Hall moved a short distance under its own power in Bridgnorth yard on May 11, for the first time in more than 35 years – the start of the lengthy commissioning phase before the Severn Valley Railway’s flagship locomotive can finally re-enter traffic.
The previous day, a warming fire was set by project leader Dave Fulcher-Insull and the MPD team, allowing the boiler to slowly warm through, whilst careful and thorough checking was completed on castings, joints, pipework and other components.
Following brake, lubricator and injector checks, and with boiler pressure increasing, No. 4930 was moved a few yards in the works yard under its own steam on May 11 – almost exactly 93 years since the locomotive was first completed at GWR Swindon Works in May 1929.
CORNISH CHINA CLAY CHARM: The Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s Clay Train made its public debut on Saturday, May 14, as a freight Driver Experience Course train, making two trips from Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway – and one to Boscarne Junction, fitting in around the service train timetable, which was diesel hauled by Class 47 No. 47306 The Sapper. Appropriately for a Cornish branch line, which carried much clay traffic in its time, motive power was GWR 0-6-0PT No. 4612, which is now back in traffic following
retubing.
JIMMY JAMES