WESTERN POWER ON THE SOUTHERN REGION:
Swindon & Cricklade Railway-based GWR ‘56XX’ No. 6695 was among the visiting locos operating during the Watercress Line’s October 4-6 Autumn Steam Spectacular. The 0-6-2T is seen passing Arleside with the 11.10 from Alresford on October 4. Other performers included Didcot’s GWR 2-6-2T No. 4144 and Southern Locomotive Limited’s Bulleid Pacific No. 34072 257 Squadron, alongside resident ‘Urie S15’ 4-6-0 No. 506 and BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T No. 41312. Driver experiences were on offer for £20 in Ropley yard using Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0 No. 3781.
NICK GILLIAM
THE overhaul of the Great Western Society’s (GWS) pioneer locomotive –‘14XX’0-4-2T No. 1466 – reached a key point in late September.
On Saturday, September 28, in the presence of GWS chairman Richard Preston, the first fire was lit in the loco’s boiler since 2002 atWilliton on theWest Somerset Railway, where the rebuild is being carried out under contract.
The September 28, fire was what is termed‘an initial thermal cycle’. While not raising any pressure within the boiler itself, it allowed all the old and new platework to expand, contract and relax without any of the normal stresses.
Any possible steam from the boiling water escaped naturally through the open clack valves on top of the boiler.