BS4G Summary of 2025

Sunday, 4th January, 2026

Hi 

Just a few lines to summarise our year at the group.

80097

Out of traffic awaiting final assembly of boiler parts after large and small boiler tube replacements.  Late summer saw 97 finally steam test to the

satisfaction of our Boiler Inspector. In early autumn the loco entered service to the delight of our supporters, the public and footplate crews. The Standard 4 is a very popular loco, particularly in inclement weather running bunker first. It was a standby engine going into the Santa season and it eventually became a regular reliable performer with only routine issues. The ELR downtime will see examinations aimed at ensuring that 97 remains at maximum availability in 2026. All income from steaming will be going towards a fund for the next major overhaul, typically 5 - 7 years from the commencement of the boiler ticket.

46428

The transformation from ex-Barry rusting hulk continues. Some of the projects this past year have been:

Brake beams

There was only one remaining when the loco arrived. That was used as an example for two more to be fabricated. They have been completed and are in store. The brake rodding and brake block assemblies will be addressed later. Four additional brake hangers were milled from metal billets and are also in store.

Axle boxes

Funding was not available to send them away for a full makeover so we looked for a contractor who would be prepared to re-metal the white metal faces only and then return them to us for machining. We are progressing.

Cylinder boring

We have a contractor to come and do on-site machining. We hope to make progress soon. It is expensive but much easier to do now with clear access to the cylinders. We have a sponsor to cover the cost.

Boiler

The most expensive single item on the loco. Our intention is to carry out as much unskilled work to the requirements of the boiler inspector and in conjunction with our boilersmith. Using the ELR breakdown crane the delicate operation of lifting and rotating the boiler was carried out by Jonathan and Harry from ELR. Our thanks to them. It was placed on a modified, adapted and redundant Mk1 carriage bogie. It is now inside, out of the weather and can be worked on without interruption. Work removing the foundation ring rivets is well advanced. We expect to be removing the ring around Feb/March. It will have NDT testing to see if it is fit to be re-used saving significant outlay for a replacement. The smokebox tubeplate has been removed as it is life expired. The original was pressed out of a single piece of plate, expensive to have manufactured. An economical replacement would be fabricated from a disc and band welded together. We hope to progress this as the raw materials are not too expensive and much of the work can be done in-house providing work for our merry band. Welding will be done by a coded welder and will require NDT inspection and certification.

These are just some of the areas we have covered over the last year. We would like to thank our members, supporters and friends for being with us throughout the year. Also our gratitude goes to the ELR for their help and support. If you would like to help to "Keep 80097 rolling and restore 46428" you can contact us through our website or speak to someone in our sales shop adjacent platform 1. We have areas of our Ivatt which will need funding which is beyond our current scope of financing. You may wish to sponsor a particular component or area of the project?