Locomotive and tender update
The locomotive has been out of service with various defects and not really required for service since last November. She re-entered service in August. The most serious defect was probably that movement had been detected in some of the fitted bolts securing the cylinders to the frames. Removing the loose bolts and making new required the front bogie to be removed. Whilst this was out we replaced the bogie springs for a set of new ones we had in stock. One was found to be broken.
Whilst Wadebridge was in the workshops for this some other work was carried out; including replacement of the front buffer beam stiffening plate, changing two of the driving wheel springs, re-bushing the brake hangers, examining all bushes and crankpins and re-metalling the centre big end and reweighing the loco.
As far as the tender is concerned, we have reached an agreement with MHR for the use of Canadian Pacific's tender for the use of it till hopefully our own tender is completed, and they are now running together.
Wadebridge will be going out on hire to the Great Central Railway for their Steam Gala from Thursday 6th October to Sunday 9th October and will be staying on the GCR for it to be used for some of the railway’s driving and firing courses and photo charters and will be returning to the Mid Hants Railway in time for the Autumn Steam Gala on the 28th to the 30th October.
D Williams, J Butcher
