ANDREW Barclay 0-6-0T Gertrude (AB1578/1918) moved under its own power at Leighton Buzzard Railway’s (LBR) Page’s Park yard at the beginning of April.
Following its original restoration in Devon, Gertrude made its public debut in steam at LBR in August 2009, before commencing a hire period at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.
On expiry of its boiler ticket and the end of that hire deal, the loco, owned by Sarah Westmacott, returned to LBR in February 2019. The boiler was lifted and sent to Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, which inevitably delayed overhaul progress. Although further work is needed Gertrude is expected to enter LBR service this year.