2026 Entries/Returnees and Withdrawals

30075 at Shillingstone is now in working order , ie passed the steam test and has trundled up and down a hundred feet or so of track.. As there's no public running at the site I assume it will go on hire elsewhere in 2026 to earn its keep.

 

That's great news - thanks for confirming

 

K.V.W.R. DUB DEE 90733 Re entering traffic at some point in 2026 I've heard off certain members at the worth valley railway and discussed tonight on rail UK forums as well.

 

Andrew Barclay 2074 Llantarnam Abbey should see its first stint in preservation working at Blaenavon in 2026.

Andrew Barclay 2201 Victory is two or three months behind Llantarnam from completion at Williton, so should return in 2026 as well.

 

Stainmore railway have posted there ner 0 6 0 tender engine could be ready for trials at end of 26 if all goes well

 

7F 13809 scheduled to bow out on NNR Mince Pie Specials and Norfolk Lights Express 27 Dec to 3 Jan. https://nnrailway.co.uk/special-events/

 

The J21?

 

I think one of the magazines mentioned 75014 at Dartmouth Steam Railway being withdrawn in 2026.

 

Joem?

 

As announced for the SVR Spring Gala, 4150 is to appear. Usual caveats.

 

Although 75014 is out of traffic later in 2026 and has been a remarkable workhorse on the Dartmouth steam railway.
Is it likely we will see 75079 at the mid hands railway return this year or is there alot of heavy work still to do on building a tender for 75079?

 

75079 has a nearly complete tender,
But ... ...
The boiler is a long way from finished.
Pat

 

Decauville 'Lily' stated by Richmond Light Railway to be out of traffic after final steaming post Christmas. Surely can't have had the full 10 years?

 

13809 didn't quite make it to 2026 as it failed yesterday with a leaking superheater element.

 

Well yes but that does'nt mean that the ex Barry locos which are still to steam in the pres era are abandoned - far from it. A lot is going on below the radar!

 

I don't see the point you are making. There's less engines now to be restored from Barry condition and other locos that have steamed since the 60s return from overhaul all the time. Most engines that are yet to be restored generally have taken many many many years and covid didn't help, no, but it wasn't a showstopper either as these were slow burners anyway.

 

Sorry if my previous post has caused some confusion and especially if it sounded as if I regarded the other ex-Barry locos as write-offs. Far from it.

I was actually trying to say "Well done" to the groups restoring 4150 and 4253 as there have been hardly any ex-Barry locos which have finally made it over the finishing line since the pandemic. I did point out that it's much more of a challenge to restore an ex-Barry engine now compared with, say the 1970s and 1980s because (i) the unrestored engines are by and large the least complete and the most clapped out (ii) costs of raw materials have gone up (iii) there are fewer keen volunteers than there were back then. The very fact that there two engines will be the first ex-Barry locos to steam since 4110 in (I think) 2021 rather proves the point.

But in spite of these factors, 4150 and 4253 will be followed by others in due course. I have no doubt of that especially as a member of several preserved railways and loco owning groups which are involved in ongong restoration projects. What I doubt will happen is that the annual number of returnees will reach the levels we saw some years ago - e.g., in 2005 6 ex-Barry locos steamed for the first time.

I hope this clarifies the point I tried to make earlier

 

Yes but that is not a bad thing, there are only so many to be restored!

 

S160 3278 should be running-in by February, with a formal re-entry into service in the spring.
5197 ticket expires in May, whether she gets an extension or not TBC...

 

Foxfield round up:

Dubs and Co crane tank 4101 is likely to be back in ticket later this year, having been out for a ten year overhaul.

Hunslet Austerity 3696 "Whiston" is also reasonably close to completion, and may steam again this year (also out for a ten year).

Bayer Peacock 1827 may possibly steam this year - the boiler is off site at Israel Newton and Sons for extensive firebox repairs.

Progress on the major restoration of Avonside 1563 continues, with very extensive boiler repairs continuing on site, including a new inner and outer firebox. I think this loco will be a stretch to see completed in 2026, but it's not impossible.

Barring disaster, nothing is scheduled to drop out this year, with the next loco to run out of ticket being Hunslet Austerity 3839 "Wimblebury" in mid 2027.