Dean Forest Spring Steam Gala 28&29 March 26

Just announced on the DFR facebook, visiting locos are:

• GER no. 229
• Willy the Well Tank

 

The Chepstow pair. Very nice.

 

Can't get much closer to their former home!

 

Potential FOURTH loco for the gala - alongside GER No. 229, Willy the Well Tank and Uskmouth 1 -

Big Progress on Andrew Barclay No. 2221!
Almost 15 months ago – on 26 September 2024 – once Peckett 2147 “Uskmouth 1” moved under its own power, Andrew Barclay 2221 was finally lifted from the plinth it had stood on for over 30 years.

Bringing it back to life
Last steamed in the 1970s at the Dowty Railway Preservation Society site at Ashchurch, No. 2221 has often been compared to a giant Meccano kit.

Over the past week the new ‘Colonial cab’ and bunkers arrived, were fitted, and fully riveted together – a huge visual step forward!

Our volunteers now have an ambitious goal: get No. 2221 in steam by March for the DFR’s Small Engines Gala. Achieving this would complete the restoration in just 18 months.

The final hurdle: boiler work
Replace the lower 12 inches of the outer firebox wrapper, backplate and throatplate
Fit a new main steam pipe
Fit 100 new tubes

We need to raise £20,000 to ensure the materials are available for all of the remaining mechanical and boiler work.

How you can help

Become a member to follow the project:
https://dfr.hops.org.uk/membership

Donate towards the final push:
https://dfr.hops.org.uk/shop/donations/andrew-barclay-2221

Donations can also be made by:
Bank transfer - to the Dean Forest Railway Society, sort code 30-91-87 account 04655645 (please ensure to include "Barclay" is the payment description).
Cheque made out to the Dean Forest Railway Society (please ensure the reverse is endorsed "Barclay Appeal"), sent to Dean Forest Railway Society, Norchard Station, Forest Road, Lydney, GL15 4ET.

Thank you for supporting the return to steam of this hardworking little industrial engine!

 

I see from photos of 229 outside Liverpool St station today that it's now been fitted with vacuum pipes. They weren't fitted at Darlington the other month, so hopefully it'll be possible for it to work passenger trains solo.

 

Judy has been announce as the final visitor

 

The latest Newsletter from the DFR throws considerable doubt on the ambition to have 2221 running by the end of March as the "final hurdle: boiler work" scope of work has expanded with the inner firebox having to be removed. Nevertheless it's good to see the progress on something that had been left to rot for many years. Perhaps 2027 is now more realistic.