LNWR pairing shines in Sunny South

THE Bluebell Railway’s May 13/14 branch line weekend saw SECR Wainwright C 0-6-0 No. 592 not only bow out of service prior to overhaul, but fail on the first day with a blown dome joint.

The 1902-built locomotive which arrived at the Bluebell in 1970 and was last restored in 2007, was stopped in traffic at Sheffield Park and is now withdrawn for
its 10-year overhaul.

In recent years, No. 592 has had somewhat of a chequered career, having been withdrawn in September 2012 due to a lack of power, resulting in the fitting of a new cylinder liner.

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It returned to traffic in August the following year, but was withdrawn in late 2014 for boiler repairs.

No. 592 re-entered traffic in April 2015, but saw restricted usage following the discovery of worn flanges. Failure apart, its boiler ticket also expired in May. Its overhaul will include new tyres, a new cylinder block and a new copper firebox.

However, the star of the show was LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T No. 1054 visiting from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Passengers and spectators alike were delighted to see it coupled, appropriately, to the line’s LNWR Observation Car.

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SECR P class 0-6-0T No. 323 Bluebell pilots H class 0-4-4T No. 263 at Waterworks with three Maunsell coaches and two suburban coaches. DAVE BOWLES

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