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THE next locomotive to return to steam at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (BRC) is set to be 16in Hunslet (3782/1953) Arthur.
When the former NCB Markham Main Colliery, Armthorpe, near Doncaster loco moves under its own power for the first time in preservation, it will be equipped with side tanks carrying a bright blue livery as ‘No. 1’.
“It will be our Thomas,” Adrian Aylward, BRC engineering & operations manager told The RM.
“It has been a big restoration – it has never run in preservation. We are planning for it to be ready for next season. The work has been aided by volunteers and contractors – Alex Beasley on the boiler and J M Steam Engineering on the mechanical work, both of which are based at Quainton Road.”
The side tanks were acquired from the Middleton Railway, having previously been carried by 14in Hunslet 0-6-0ST Brookes No. 1 (2387/1941). They have been modified for use on Arthur.
Boiler
The last of the copper stays were being put in place on July 20 – after which the boiler was due to be turned upright and the new front tubeplate fitted.
Work carried out on the loco’s ‘bottom end’ has included the riveting on of two new buffer beams and gusset plates and grinding the horns true.
