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She’s Back and She’s Black and She’s Going to the Gala
LMS Black Five No. 45305 "Alderman A E Draper" is back in traffic!
Tom Tighe about to fit the vacuum bags, it won't be the first time he's done this job: he's looked after 45305 since the 1960's and now he's our Chief Engineer.
Many thanks to Craig for these photos – I’m afraid that that the light wasn’t good for one of them, but they do show steam issuing from the cylinder drains and that’s the most important thing!
There’s been a rush on for the last couple of months as we desperately tried to get the five back into traffic in time for the GCR’s Steam Railway Gala – which is this weekend, in fact it’s happening now (Friday the 8th of October) and over the rest of the weekend (9th & 10th of October) so please visit the GCR to see our big black friend in traffic as well as a host of visiting locomotives to entertain you while 45305 is busy elsewhere on the railway!
It’s taken a long long time, and cost a lot of money (don’t ask how much – it makes the treasurer go white whenever he thinks about it) but we’ve finally done it: 45305 is back in steam. There’s a pause here while I cough behind my hand and politely remind all our readers that any donations towards the cost of getting 45305 back into traffic would be much appreciated – cheques, payable to 5305 Locomotive Association, can be sent to Sandcroft, Mansfield Road, Farnsfield, NG22 8HH and will be very gratefully received.
Getting 45305 back into traffic took the efforts of a lot of people – some just put in a few hours here or there, but others have put in days, weeks or months of effort, among them are the GCR’s shed staff who pulled out all the stops to help us get the engine into traffic ready for the Gala. I’d like to thank them and the GCR for all their help in getting her back into steam. And I’d like to be able to list all the people who helped in the overhaul, but there have been so many helpers that I’d run the risk of missing someone out if I tried, so a huge Thank You to everyone for their efforts, now let’s get on with the serious business of looking after her while she’s in traffic. Well Done Team!
By Info | Friday, October 8, 2010 | Tags : 45305