• Boiler arrives at Leaky Finders in Devon for overhaul • More than half of £150,000 boiler appeal met • Boiler appeal remains open • “… aspire to see locomotive in steam for 70th birthday in 2026”
Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited (TSLL) – owner of Standard Class 4 2-6-0 no. 76077, has passed another important milestone with despatch of the boiler to Leaky Finders Ltd in Devon, which will return the 72-year-old vessel to working order.
Boiler no. 1052, built at Darlington as one of the first batch of Standard No. 7 boilers and first fitted to sister locomotive 76007, was loaded onto transport at Toddington on Friday morning, 22nd November, arriving at the works of Leaky Finders that afternoon and taken straight in to the workshops.
Over recent months, TSLL volunteers at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) have been trial-fitting new firehole doors, rocking grate mechanism, crinolines and cladding. These items are now stored pending the return of the boiler and fitting it to the frames.
One of the first tasks for Leaky Finders is to undertake an NDT (non-destructive test) examination and begin work on the foundation ring, as well as remove the front parallel section of the barrel along with the front tubeplate. Both have suffered significant corrosion over the 57 years since the locomotive was withdrawn and are to be replaced.
Rory Edwards, Director of Leaky Finders said: “Following my initial inspection of the boiler, I agreed with Andrew Meredith, TSLL’s Engineering Director that, while repairable, replacement of the barrel and tubeplate is sensible to ensure longevity of the boiler.
“We are now arranging an NDT examination to confirm the boiler inspector’s initial findings and determine the continuing programme of work. Overall, the boiler appears to be in good condition, given that it was last overhauled at Eastleigh in 1964, just three years before 76077 was withdrawn. However, there is work to be done on the plates around the foundation ring and we have already started removing the rivets.”
Mr Edwards added: “When the boiler was delivered, it came with a box marked ‘critical components’. On opening the box we found some of TSLL’s very distinctive mugs, along with a large pack of Yorkshire tea and a lovely selection of biscuits. That’s a wonderful gesture and we are really looking forward to working with the TSLL team.”
Collection of the boiler took place the day before the company’s AGM at Toddington, which was extremely well attended by supporters who were the first to know that the move had been completed successfully.
Andrew Meredith added: “This was a very upbeat meeting which resulted in a number of further share applications towards the boiler overhaul. We are now well past the halfway mark towards our £150,000 boiler funding target. That is hugely encouraging, particularly as we can expect some large invoices coming in as work progresses.”
Investments in the boiler fund can be made for as little as £240 or £20 per month while a number of boiler components, such as tubes, stays, firebox repairs or patch screws are still available for sponsorship.
Concluded Mr Meredith: “This is an exciting time for the team. Restoration of the engine must rank as one of the fastest in the UK, yet no shortcuts or compromises are being made. At the present rate of progress we still aspire to see 76077 in steam for her 70th birthday on 27th December 2026."
Meanwhile, work on the chassis continues at the premises of Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough, using a combination of professional and volunteer labour. In another milestone, the almost completely-new cab has been finished bar painting and it will be fitted to the frames. In addition, the components for a completely new reverser assembly, thought to be the first to be completed for a standard locomotive since 1960, have been manufactured and will shortly be assembled. The components were displayed for shareholders to view at the company’s AGM.
Background to Boiler 1052
Built at Darlington in 1952, the boiler was first fitted to Horwich (Lancashire)-built 76007 which was delivered to the Southern Region’s Eastleigh depot in January 1953. That locomotive entered Eastleigh works for overhaul in 1958, when the boiler was removed, repaired and fitted to sister 76012. When that locomotive visited Eastleigh works in December 1963, the boiler was again removed and overhauled. It was then fitted to 76077 which arrived at the works in January 1964. The boiler replaced 76077’s original Swindon-built boiler no. 1799. 76077 left the works at the end of February 1964 but remained on the SR until late April when she returned to her home depot of Sutton Oak, at St. Helens in Lancashire.
In June 1967, Sutton Oak depot was closed and 76077, along with 76079, 80 and 84, moved to Wigan Springs Branch, from where all four were withdrawn on 3 December 1967. They arrived at the Barry scrapyard of Woodham Bros. in South Wales in September 1968. 76080 was scrapped at Barry; the others have since been returned to steam. 76077 is the last Standard class 4 2-6-0 to be restored.
Information about 76077 can be found at www.standard76077.com
