March 2026

March got off to a purposeful start, with the team’s attention split between the ongoing overhaul of 30076 and preparations for the Steam Up weekend. In the shelter, needle gun derusting of 30076’s side tanks was well underway, alongside welding of the channels that will carry the sander pipes. Outside, 30075 was given a thorough clean and moved into position at the down platform, ready to welcome footplate visitors over the coming weekend. 30076 was positioned near the shelter so visitors could easily see the work in progress.

The Thursday before the event saw a general tidy-up of the shelter, with tables, chairs, video screens and signage all set up and ready to go.

The Steam Up weekend itself was a real highlight - a great success by any measure, and one that earned the project a feature on BBC Local News. Three traction engines ran in steam, vintage buses were on display, and the Wickham Trolley kept busy up and down the line. Escorted walks along the newly opened track extension proved popular, and plenty of visitors made their way into the shelter to get a close look at the work on 30076’s water tanks. 30075 was not in steam - crew recency and permissions requirements couldn’t be met in time - but it was positioned at the down platform for footplate visits. The sales stand did well, and the cafe and shop both had a busy weekend. It was a real credit to everyone involved, and to the organising committee in particular.

Work resumed the following Wednesday with a few loose ends from the event tidied up, before attention returned fully to the two locomotives. On 30075, the lower backhead cladding plates were undercoated, then painted gloss black the following week. On 30076, the side tank work pressed on - cutting channels for the sander pipes, welding up redundant bolt holes, and cleaning up bolt threads. A redundant propane cylinder was taken in hand to be converted into a vacuum cylinder, and another of the loco’s buffers was brought into the shelter.

By the 18th, the work was broadening in scope. Outside, cutting to shorten the front buffer beam continued. In the cab, the coal space hatch came off and a start was made unbolting the bunker. A scaffold tower went up to give access to the roof so that work could carry on the following week.

The final Wednesday of the month saw continued progress on the side tanks - more channel cutting and angle grinding to level the tank bases - while outside, work began using a cutter to liberate 30076’s cab roof ahead of its removal. The morning also brought a committee meeting, at which it was agreed that this year’s AGM will be held on Saturday 20 June.