80097 is a British Railways Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank engine. It returned to service in 2022, but was withdrawn from service in October 2022 after it failed with a blown large boiler tube.

Previous to that, it had completed a 34-year restoration in 2018, but then suffered a cracked small boiler tube.

Brake bar on 46428 // Credit: Bury Standard 4 Group

After completing its restoration, the locomotive underwent trials and was restored to service on 1st March 2019 at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway.

BR Ivatt Mogul No. 46428 is scheduled to have its boiler lifted in late July. The group’s ex Mark 1 bogie is being prepared so that it can accommodate the boiler inverted, which will allow the boiler to be taken inside the workshop.

Once the boiler is inside the building, the work can be carried out regardless of the weather. The Bury Standard 4 group hopes that being able to work in all weathers will speed up the restoration process.

The group expects that the work will take several years, as it is dependent on raising the necessary funding. It plans to contract out each part of the work as it raises the money, or receives donations, that cover the cost.

80097_in_steam_4 — 80097 in steam // Credit: Bury Standard 4 Group

When the locomotive was brought to Bury, it had only one brake beam. This meant that the group had to arrange the manufacture of the extra two that the loco needs. It now reports that the fabrication of the additional two brake beams is progressing well.

The group has obtained two pre-cut metal slabs and is welding the stub ends into place, sitting in the brake hangars on either side.

Work on restoring the locomotive began six years ago. Last year, work on the locomotive focused on the fitting out of the external parts of the smokebox, which was then placed on the saddle and had a new number plate and shedcode attached.