According to the latest update from the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust, construction of Riddles 82000 Class 3MT 2-6-2 tank engine No. 82045 is progressing steadily.

Progress since the previous report in February has seen a coating of Rustoleom protective paint applied to the boiler, and work has continued with turning lengths of steel strip into crinoline bands that will be used to support the boiler barrel cladding.

To allow the boiler to fit into the chassis, the water tanks will need to be removed, a task that is scheduled for the near future.

While the water tanks are off the locomotive, they will be shot-blasted to provide a good surface for when they are painted.

Before the tanks are removed, work will continue to complete the removal of the vacuum pipework where the pipes are routed under the left-hand tank before emerging inside the main frames.

A similar convoluted path is used to route the carriage warming pipe under the right-hand tank. However, that pipework will not be removed until after the tanks have been painted and refitted to the locomotive.

It is hoped that if construction of 82045 is successful, construction of a Riddles 2-6-0 77000 class will follow, which, like the 82000 Class, would be well-suited to service on today’s heritage lines.