WORK ON DRUMMOND LOCOMOTIVE M7 No 30053 AT THE SWANAGE RAILWAY - 20th December 2007

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 20th December 2007
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page. Photos on these pages are low resolution versions. Full resolution photos are available for media use

Drummond M7 No 30053 stands in Swanage engine shed undergoing heavy overhaul.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 40 great photos of work on M7 30053 at the engine shed at Swanage where the locomotive is undergoing heavy overhaul. The locomotive was designed by Dugald Drummond in 1897 and built at Nine Elms in London in 1905. All the photos were all taken during December 2007.

Andrew P.M. Wright writes: M7 30053 was based at Bournemouth for a few months in early 1964 and worked the Swanage branch along with the 'Old Road' from Poole to Brockenhurst via Broadstone, Wimborne, West Moors and Ringwood. It was withdrawn from regular traffic with the last few remaining M7s at Bournemouth in mid-May 1964.

M7 30053 returned to the Swanage Railway in April 1987 before being restored during the late 1980s and early 1990s - returning to Swanage as a fully working steam locomotive in 1992.

Now undergoing heavy overhaul, including a new cab floor and storage lockers and a set of new tyres, the locomotive is taking shape once again. The cab photos were taken in early December and the re-bogie photos were taken yesterday, Wednesday 19th December,

Andy Dunster of Swanage works on fitting the cab floor of M7 No 30053 at Swanage engine shed.

The first of the photos were taken in early December, 2007, and show work on the new cab floor and footplate storage cupboards. Andy Dunster of Swanage is shown with hammer and chisel in the cab, and Graham Froud of Corfe Castle can also be seen fitting panels inside the cab.

Graham Froud of Corfe Castle at work fitting panels inside the cab of M7 No 30053 at Swanage engine shed.

The later photos were taken on 19th December 2007 and show the M7 30053 having its rear bogie re-installed after the four wheels were re-tyred.

Swanage Railway locomotive, carriage and wagon manager James Cox applies grease to the bearing point of the bogie from M7 No 30053 at Swanage engine shed prior to refitting.

Shown in the photos applying grease to the bearing points of the bogie from M7 No 30053 at Swanage engine shed prior to refitting is Swanage Railway locomotive, carriage and wagon manager James Cox.

Also shown leaning over the bogie as it goes in is Graham Froud of Corfe Castle with Oliver Furnell from Swanage alongside the locomotive.

Swanage Railway locomotive, carriage and wagon manager James Cox (left) watches as Graham Froud of Corfe Castle stands between the freshly tyred wheels to roll the bogie back into place. Oliver Furnell from Swanage is shown in the second photograph alongside the locomotive ensuring that the bogie is located correctly.

To see the full set of over 40 photos from Andrew P.M. Wright of the work, please scroll down the page.