February 2025 Update

Friday, 14th February, 2025

Standard 4 Loco    80097 

We have made progress on the provision of a satisfactory regulator valve. For those who are not sure, the valve controls steam admission into the superheater inlet header and subsequently to the cylinders. It is also the stop valve and isolates the steam supply when the loco is required to stop. It is safety critical and must be steam tight! Our own valve is no longer usable. We have a pattern for a replacement but it requires attention before we can have a replacement cast.

All this takes time so as an interim measure we have borrowed a valve assembly from NYMR from Standard 4 tender engine 75029 "Green Knight". That loco is in the overhaul line and will not be attended to for some time. We are grateful to NYMR for their generosity in helping us out. The valve is currently being machined to ensure good isolating properties.

See picture of NYMR Boiler Shop manager Chris Kelley and his assistant Riley Craig who kindly transported the valve to the car at Grosmont Station car park for return to Bury. Thank you very much gentlemen!

Watch this space.