Urgent repairs for 257 Squadron

Southern Locomotives News Release dated 25th April 1999 - all photographs are copyright Andrew P.M.Wright.

A stalwart engine belonging to Southern Locomotives Ltd that has reliably hauled trains on Dorset's relaid Purbeck Line since 1990 is in the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works for urgent repair work.

A STALWART engine belonging to Southern Locomotives Ltd that has reliably hauled trains on Dorset's relaid Purbeck Line since 1990 is in the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works for urgent repair work.

The journey by road via the Norden station rail/road interchange north of Corfe Castle was needed so Southern Locomotives Ltd staff could help he Swanage Railway carry out repairs to unrebuilt Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34072 '257 Squadron' - its front bogie, 15 firebox stays, the chimney and the front-end piston valves.

It's hoped to have the locomotive back in traffic at Swanage by mid-May. The repair work includes the replacement of a spring on the locomotive's front bogie, the replacement of 15 firebox stays, the replacement of the chimney and also work on all three front-end piston valves.

The valve work includes the honing of all three valve liners to remove ridging around the ports, the replacement of valve heads which had worn badly oval as well as the fitting of new rings.

"The worst of the three valves was the middle valve which looked as though it has been completely starved of lubrication," said Southern Locomotives Ltd spokesman Steve Kerley of Poole in Dorset.

Southern Locomotives Ltd admits that the repair work will delay the return to traffic of 1954 Brighton-built ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 which is approaching completion in the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works.

It had been hoped to have the locomotive in light steam by early May - a hoped for date now put back to the mid to late summer.

But the delay in work on 80078 is having a knock-on effect because Southern Locomotives Ltd's working Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 will now not travel to Kent for three weeks in May.

No. 80104 of 1955 was set to make a star appearance - albeit on a low-loader - at the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend traction engine steam fair at Les Birch's Hope Farm near Sellindge in Kent; Southern Locomotives Ltd's restoration base in the south-east.

The locomotive was also to have been a guest star at the Spa Valley Railway between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge in Kent for two weekends. But No. 80104 - which re-entered traffic at Swanage in May, 1997, after 32 years - will be spending the coming winter hauling trains on the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton near Bath between November and May next year.

Given a partial re-tube at Swanage last year, No. '257 Squadron' was taken out of traffic at the beginning of December after a boiler washout highlighted six broken firebox stays and nine others needing replacement. Minus its tender, the locomotive was towed from Swanage to the Purbeck Line's Norden park and ride station and its rail/road interchange facility before it was put on the back of a low-loader and transported by road back to Swanage and the railway's Herston engineering works on the outskirts of the seaside town.

"There's nowhere else than Herston for the locomotive to be worked on at the moment because M7 No. 30053 is having repairs carried out to its firebox stays in the engine shed at Swanage," explained Steve Kerley.

"Herston Works is the ideal place for No. 257 Squadron to be examined and repaired. It offers space, covered accommodation and all the tools and equipment needed as well as the technical knowledge and experience of the No. 80078 restoration team," added Mr Kerley.

No. 257 Squadron arrived at the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works - a former cosmetics factory just a few hundred yards from the Swanage Railway's line but without access - on Saturday, February 27th, 1999, after a fraught trip which saw No. 257 Squadron's low-loader become stuck on the Victoria Avenue humped-backed road bridge over the Swanage Railway.

Hired from Andrew Goodman of Moveright International of Coleshill, Warwickshire, the locomotive and trailer - weighing a total of 102 tonnes - were stuck on the main road bridge for seven hours on Friday, February 26th, 1999. They were only shifted when three tractor units were sent for to pull the assembly off the bridge.No. 80104 of 1955 was set to make a star appearance - albeit on a low-loader - at the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend traction engine steam fair at Les Birch's Hope Farm near Sellindge in Kent; Southern Locomotives Ltd's restoration base in the south-east.

The locomotive was also to have been a guest star at the Spa Valley Railway between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge in Kent for two weekends. But No. 80104 - which re-entered traffic at Swanage in May, 1997, after 32 years - will be spending the coming winter hauling trains on the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton near Bath between November and May next year.

Given a partial re-tube at Swanage last year, No. '257 Squadron' was taken out of traffic at the beginning of December after a boiler washout highlighted six broken firebox stays and nine others needing replacement. Minus its tender, the locomotive was towed from Swanage to the Purbeck Line's Norden park and ride station and its rail/road interchange facility before it was put on the back of a low-loader and transported by road back to Swanage and the railway's Herston engineering works on the outskirts of the seaside town.

"There's nowhere else than Herston for the locomotive to be worked on at the moment because M7 No. 30053 is having repairs carried out to its firebox stays in the engine shed at Swanage," explained Steve Kerley.

"Herston Works is the ideal place for No. 257 Squadron to be examined and repaired. It offers space, covered accommodation and all the tools and equipment needed as well as the technical knowledge and experience of the No. 80078 restoration team," added Mr Kerley.

No. 257 Squadron arrived at the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works - a former cosmetics factory just a few hundred yards from the Swanage Railway's line but without access - on Saturday, February 27th, 1999, after a fraught trip which saw No. 257 Squadron's low-loader become stuck on the Victoria Avenue humped-backed road bridge over the Swanage Railway.

Hired from Andrew Goodman of Moveright International of Coleshill, Warwickshire, the locomotive and trailer - weighing a total of 102 tonnes - were stuck on the main road bridge for seven hours on Friday, February 26th, 1999. They were only shifted when three tractor units were sent for to pull the assembly off the bridge.