‘Donor’ Ivatt dismantled for restoration

The boiler of Ivatt ‘2MT’ No. 46428 is lifted from the frames at Bury on June 6. HARRY TAYLOR/BURY STANDARD 4 GROUP


An Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 that was originally acquired from Barry scrapyard as a source of spares has been dismantled – but it is the first step towards restoring the locomotive to working order.


Now that the restoration of its BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80097 is nearing completion, the Bury Standard 4 Group has turned its attention to LMS-design ‘Mogul’ No. 46428, which has been in storage at the East Lancashire Railway for almost 30 years.


The ELR’s 130-ton crane was used on June 6 to lift the boiler from the frames, and the frames from the wheels, before placing the frames outside the group’s workshop at Bury Bolton Street station for their restoration to commence.


Withdrawn from BR service in 1966, No. 46428 was originally purchased from Dai Woodham’s yard by the Strathspey Railway, to provide a replacement boiler for sister locomotive No. 46464 after the latter suffered firebox damage in a ‘low water’ incident. Instead, it was sold on to the Bury Standard 4 Group in 1987.


No. 80097’s boiler is nearing completion at Adam Dalgleish Engineering and is expected to return to the ELR during July, putting the Riddles tank on the final straight to steaming again for the first time since 1965.

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