GROUDLE Glen Railway (GGR) has launched an appeal to finance overhauling its Hudson-Hunslet 4wDM Walrus (4395/1952). Walrus and sister locomotive Dolphin (4394/1952) were acquired when the closed line at Dodington House near Bristol was purchased in 1982. Both were employed in rebuilding the GGR in the early 1980s, operated passenger trains until steam was reintroduced and continued in service working maintenance trains. By 2020, both needed attention.
Work on Dolphin could be handled in-house and the rebuilt loco was launched back into service in May (RM, June). However, Walrus is in much worse condition requiring specialist engineering works attention to the Gardner engine and gearbox. John Fowler & Sons in Cumbria has been selected as the contractor with the cost of stripping and rebuilding the loco estimated at around £40,000 plus VAT, not including transport costs.