South Devon Railway - News July 2003

The
South Devon Railway
SDR LATEST NEWS
JULY 2003

‘Lady Angela’ back after 27 years!

After a protracted restoration involving a major rebuild of its boiler Peckett 0-4-0ST No.1690 ‘Lady Angela’ passed its boiler exam today and immediately celebrated by making a series of running in trips around the yard at Buckfastleigh.

The engine was bought from the Shackerstone Railway in 1976 having been saved for preservation after many years working at a gypsum mine in the Midlands. The engine was bought by Dennis Braybrook, then Chairman of the South Devon Railway Association’s Hants and Dorset group. It was steamed at Buckfastleigh a few times but it soon became apparent that major work would be needed on the boiler. Over the years work has progressed slowly. With the recent departure of Peckett 1738 to pastures new the slot in the motive power stud at Buckfastleigh for a small engine for shunting on gala days and the like became vacant and it was agreed that the SDR would take the engine into its works and help complete the work – always likely to be a protracted affair as most of the group carrying out the work were based around the Bournemouth area.

The work has now been completed, although vacuum brakes will be fitted over the next few weeks. A celebration is planned during August when the Braybrook family, owners of the engine, will share the pleasure of seeing the engine at work with the volunteers and SDR staff who helped return this grand little engine to working order.

Prairie 5526 takes a leap forward

Prairie tank 5526 moved a major step nearer completion recently with the successful steam testing of the boiler. With the boiler back in the frames the side tanks (some we made earlier, as they say) were quickly fitted as was the boiler lagging and cladding (again already made). This was followed hours later by the cab roof. So, now the engine looks nearly finished but the work of fitting all the extra bits around the locomotive continue. A new set of valves and pistons
were recently delivered and assembly will take place soon. A steaming later in the year is the aim – progress will, as usual, depend on the good behaviour of the working fleet and also will fit around the contract repair of Large Prairie 4160.