During the summer months much has been achieved on 7200's restoration. Earlier in the year we refitted the valves, and with some extra help we are in the process of fitting the slide-bars and the cross-heads. The sand boxes are now complete, new lids having been manufactured in Rotherham.

In late August the boiler was moved to the rear of the restoration shed where work has now started on drilling out the stays. Pete Gransden, the Didcot boilersmith, is combining this work as well as working on 6989.

September 8th saw a significant step forward when the bunker was taken away to be rebuilt. The trustees thought that this was probably the best move as we do not have the necessary tools at Quainton to complete the task.

At the same time that the bunker was removed, the side-tanks were taken away. Though they are considered beyond economic repair, the group restoring the bunker wanted them to study before estimating the price of new ones. Though there is still much to do, I think that anyone visiting us next year will see significant progress. With the progress that we and the 6989 group are making, along with other developments, and even though times are undoubtedly tough, it is by no means all doom and gloom!

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 2010 and so does not reflect events in the 4+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
7200 Trust Report - John Porter - Vice-chairman - Quainton News No. 104 - Autumn / Winter 2010 / 11