Photo:
A Davies - Live Steam, Quainton

The principal task for the Loco Department has, of course, been the completion of Met 'E' class 0-4-4T No. 1. With the boiler finally returning from Resco's Works on 16th March, the race was well and truly on to complete the restoration work before 4th May.

The boiler was craned straight from the lorry in to the frames, all items below footplate level having been completed prior to this - and work immediately commenced on preparing for a steam test before the final fitting of cladding and lagging. This is the last hurdle to be overcome before a full BR boiler certificate is granted.

Progress on paintwork has continued and, on the same weekend that the boiler returned, the first topcoats of Met crimson were applied to the tanks, bunker and cab. This will leave just the final coats of paint, lining and lettering to be completed once all the 'big bits' are together again.

At the time of writing this article, much midnight oil is having to be burned to finish No. 1 in time, but we are confident the job will be done. Scarcely a day goes by without at least one member of the department beavering away with some task or other, so there will be a great sigh of relief - physical and mental - once the engine finally turns a wheel on 4th May.

As well as No. 1, of course, our other locos cannot be forgotten and all have had boiler inspections etc. in time for 31st March. These give us an annual reminder that the more engines we have in service the greater our maintenance task becomes and, therefore, the less time we have for restoration - unless we get more help!

Our next large project, after No. 1, will be Beattie well tank 0314 - don't forget to sell your draw tickets - and this is unfortunately, another 'big pound note' job'. Most of the work is concentrated on the boiler - tubes, stays, rivets, lap joints and so on - but mechanically our mascot engine is in good shape. A repaint will be required though.

Progress on some of our privately owned locos continues. The chassis of John Hutching's No. 9366 has been rewheeled and returned to the comfort of the up yard shed for further work. Also, in the up yard, progress continues on the boiler of Peter Bowers' Sentinel Susan. Still on the theme of boilers, Peckett 'OYl' 0-4-0ST No. 2087 has had its boiler removed to facilitate examination of the lower parts of the outer firebox wrapper. The chassis of 6024 King Edward I is looking remarkably complete under those tarpaulins - lots of shining steel and black paint! Boiler work continues apace also. Work on our own Great Western 4-6-0 6989 Wightwick Hall has slowed however, as the Group have decided to put all their financial effort into a section of the up yard shed extension. Once the loco is under cover however, we expect to see some rapid progress.

The Executive Committee has learned that David Potter's Peckett 0-4-0ST No. 1756 Hornpipe is to be sold. As the Society wishes to add a Peckett to its own collection, it has been decided to place Barclay 0-4-0ST Tom Parry on the market in order to raise part of the finance. This will have to be ratified by the AGM, of course.

So 1985 will see the old faithfuls in service: 7715 and Coventry, the Sentinels, Frank Boait's smallest engine, the Fireless 2243 - and, before and after its GW 150 assignation, 9466. Pride of place will be shared by the Pannier and by our own Met tank No. 1. And who knows what further progress will be made during the year on a certain superb 4-6-0? And Chislet? ... and ...

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1986 and so does not reflect events in the 28+ 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:
Loco Prepares for 1985 - Quainton News No. 56 - Spring 1985