THE South Devon Railway’s (SDR) GWR Collett 0-4-2T No. 1420 could return to steam in 2022 after the loco’s 15-year overhaul received a grant to aid the boiler work.
The overhaul of the auto-tank, known as Oliver in the Thomas the Tank Engine children’s books, should now speed up thanks to a grant of £5000 from the Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust towards new boiler stays. Veronica Awdry is the daughter of the late Rev. W Awdry and her charitable trust helpfully distributes some royalty funds regularly for appropriate heritage railway projects.