A POPULAR member of the Severn Valley Railway’s steam fleet is edging closer to returning to traffic following an extensive overhaul.
On October 16, the first fire was lit in Stanier Mogul No. 2968 at Bridgnorth since January 2013. Three days later, the 2-6-0 operated a series of light engine test runs to Hampton Loade as the process of snagging got into full swing.
Owned by the Stanier Mogul Fund, the loco’s previous boiler certificate expired in January 2013 – when it ran in BR guise as No. 42968. The latest overhaul began in 2014.
Another Bridgnorth resident taking shape is new-build BR ‘3MT’2-6-2T No. 82045. Having reached the funding target, the order has been placed for all the details for both the large and the small tubes in the boiler.
The group is now trying to secure funding for the remaining materials needed to complete the boiler prior to test. These include wash-out plugs at £40 each, fusible plugs at £120 each and mud-hole door assemblies at £140 each. Visit www.82045.org.uk for details of how you can help.
Steady progress also continues to be made on GWR‘Large Prairie’ 2-6-2T No. 4150 – the last
