With the price of boiler tubes quite low at present, we have the opportunity to give 'Stepney' a quick cost-effective boiler overhaul, so that it can be available for our 50th Anniversary celebrations this year. Only the minimum work required will be done. Once overhauled the loco will remain available, limited to very light duties, for as long as is feasible, but this might not be much longer than just the remainder of the year, depending on how it performs mechanically. We have a new set of cylinder castings in stock for this loco, but it is not feasible to fit these within the time and budget available, so this and other major mechanical work will have to await the loco's next major overhaul.Derek Hayward's photo shows that, following its availability for footplate visits whilst posed in the dock at Sheffield Park during the Santa Special season, no time has been wasted in starting to dismantle the loco for the boiler lift. Some preparatory work had already taken place last year, but now the outer tank covers have been removed.
Photo © copyright of, and with thanks to, Derek Hayward