6695 Locomotive Group Major Progress Report

Report and photographs by J Webb and APM Wright 30th March 1998

The aim is to have a running chassis within the next 12 to 15 months and have Class 5 No. 6695 steaming triumphantly at the head of a train at the start of the new Millennium - for the first time since July, 1964.

But more cash towards the completion of the £50,000 project is urgently needed. Financed by donations and fundraising, the Group is seeking sponsors to pay for large and small tubes for the boiler which was recently examined by an expert and said to be in very good condition.

The delicate craning operation for the wheels to be rolled under the chassis of No. 6695 took place at the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works on the outskirts of the town on Thursday, March 5th, 1998, during the Group's annual working week. It had taken the dedicated band of Group members 12 months to prepare the chassis for the wheels. They have already restored the axleboxes and keeps, and the springs and hangers have been returned and are awaiting installation. The work was coordinated with the removal of 80078's boiler to make best use of the hired crane. The photograph shows 80078 with 6695 in the background prior to the operation.

"The rewheeling has been a hope since the wheels were taken out from the chassis some 12 years ago. It's brilliant - a major and very positive step forward for us. Now we've got an 0-6-2 as opposed to just a set of wheels and frames," said No.6695 Locomotive Group member John Webb, a Wimborne printer.

The next job will be to re-instate the rear coal bunker. Because the original was so badly rusted, it had to be scrapped. Thanks to help from a Poole engineering firm, a completely new bunker was made to exactly match the design of the old one. In Herston Works, the No. 6695 Locomotive Group members have made a start on installing items such as the vacuum tank and pipework on the chassis.

The Group is having to pay for the manufacture of two completely new cylinder liners for the cylinders as the old ones were worn down to scrapping size. As well as work on the chassis in Herston Works, restoration work is also proceeding apace on No. 6695's two side water tanks which are being replated inside and out. And a new chimney to replace the one broken at Barry has also been purchased. The next big job for the locomotive volunteers is to raise the £10,000 or so thought to be needed for the restoration of the boiler.

"The inspector thought we'd got a good boiler which doesn't need any major work, just foundation rivets, stays and a bit of welding. But we've still got a long way to go in raising the money needed to do the work," said John.

Boiler tubes for No. 6695 are £25 for small ones and £200 for large ones. Shares in No. 6695 are also available at £250 each and you can even pay painlessly through a monthly banker's Direct Debit.

For details of how you can help No. 6695 steam back into life on the Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line, send an SAE to John Webb, 54 Rempstone Road, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1RP or call him on (01202) 888707 which also has an answerphone service.

Background Notes:

The No. 6695 Locomotive Group was formed in August, 1995.

The Group currently has 69 members.

No. 6695 was built by Armstrong Whitworth in October, 1928.

Worked in the Midlands and then Wales from September, 1939.

Withdrawn by British Railways in July, 1964.

Sent to Barry Scrapyard in South Wales.

Rescued for restoration on the Swanage Railway in May, 1979.