We are pleased to be able to report that, after the hard work put in by Team 5643 at Bury over the past couple of weeks, 5643 passed its steam test in the presence of our boiler surveyor last Friday and has had its ten year boiler ticket extended by two months. This will be of particular help to the East Lancs Railway over the busy Christmas period as it has temporarily lost the use of the Standard Class 4 tank there because of a flue tube failure.
5643 is now provisionally scheduled to operate trains on the following dates: 26th and 27th November, 9th, 10th, 11th, 26th and 27th December. It will also be on standby on other dates.
Talking of dates for your diary, Alison has arranged for this year’s FRT Christmas Dinner to be held at The Ribble Pilot pub on Preston’s dockside on the evening of Friday, 16th December.
Back in the FRT shed at Preston, Keith has continued his work in applying protective paint to Wootton Hall’s boiler cladding.
We have also seen further progress on the overhaul of Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 where John Dixon has been replacing grab handles, lamp holders and the like to the exterior of the vehicle.
The fabric to line the interior sides of the coach has arrived and Phil Bell is seen here cutting some white backing sheets.
And here is the first panel to be fitted with the new fabric, with shiny varnished woodwork above, and a sneak preview of what the whole coach will look like when completed.