The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust has released its latest update on progress in building a new member of the extinct Riddles BR 3MT 2-6-2 82000 tank class.
Many of the current new-build projects aim to recreate larger main-line types, but this project is looking to build a loco intended specifically for heritage line use.
Success with this project will also open the door to the recreation of a Riddles 2-6-2 77000 class, another long-lost type that is well suited to service on today's heritage lines.
The driving force behind the project was the conviction that the days of working steam are numbered without an initiative of this kind.
Even the most recently-built existing BR Standard locomotives are now over 50 years old, with all the attendant problems of maintenance and repair that this will increasingly cause their owners.
It seems unlikely that the current fleet can continue to run daily services in another 50 (and probably far fewer) years, but their lives will certainly be prolonged if they work alongside new engines that can shoulder some of the burden.
The latest progress has been to install the pony trucks and thereby transform the loco into a 2-6-2.
On the morning of Monday, 6th December 2021, 82045 was already positioned over the wheeldrop in the erecting shop with the pony trucks awaiting fitting.
There followed a very slick and professional operation carried out by a team of full-time staff led by Will Marsh.
It started with the pony trucks being fitted under 82045, and culminated in the loco being moved down the yard in the rain.
After the loco had returned to the erecting shop, the sun came out to put a shine on the day's proceedings.
With the pony trucks now in place, attention will turn to other aspects of the loco's construction, including fitting lubrication pipework, slide bars, and reversing shaft, and work on the firebox continues.
Mendip Steam Restoration Ltd. has manufactured a steam dome for the boiler barrel, but that is currently in two sections and arrangements are progressing for the Severn Valley Railway's contract coded welder to weld the two sections together to complete the job.
A video of fitting the new pony trucks and moving from the shed on the Severn Valley Railway can be seen here
It’s lovely to see all the smiling faces as she is rolled out as a 2-6-2. Justly proud of their achievement.
(Ref 82045) I liked the 82, A good speedy reliable sort, I fired them 1000s of miles on many branchlines in 1960 /1/2/3, They joined the 41 Ivatt fleet that followed the m7, All good engines. The 82 took banks well and were pretty speedy on passenger duties! But i think back on their goods turns, and the many long trains of new VW vans we took for conversion into excellent, colourful and very popular Camper vans at the time, You could say the standard 82 delivered a duck, that turned into a Swan? (Good speed 82045) nostalgia.
Sorry typo error 1960
The BR class77xxx were not 2-6-2 , they were a 2-6-0 tender engine and all BR steam locomotives are now 60+ years old (last produced in 1969)