4270 at GWSR

Whilst having a read of the latest 4F Progress Report at GWSR, I noticed in the background of one the photos (the second one) the bunker/cab/tanks of a GWR tank engine. I presume this is 4270? Out of curiosity does anyone have an information as to how this engine is progressing? The GWSR website has it as stored pending continued restoration.

Many thanks!

 

Yes, it is 4270. I will be visiting Toddington next month so I will try and find out whilst there. However, I have seen recent photos of 4270 and to me it looks virtually complete, apart from its boiler which is still at Crewe I think. However, those forumites more up to date than I may be able to tell you more I'm sure.

 

Be nice to have a freight tank running at Toddington again, wasn't that long ago 4277 was a semi resident.

 

Yes, both 4277 and 4247 have been based there in the past. 42xx and 52xxs were, apparently, somewhat rare visitors in GWR and BR days on the Honeybourne Line as the South Wales shedded 42 locos never usually travelled further east than Gloucester. The larger tanked and bunkered 72xxs were more common. However, I've always thought the 42s to be superb looking locos, so much so I remember joining a group and extricating 4277 from Barry Scrapyard in 1985 - seems a long time ago now, well, I guess it is!

 

Hi there,
In response to the question about 4270, please see my photo of the loco in the shed at Toddington taken last month. Bottom end looks complete with cab, bunker and tanks fitted.
Best wishes
Paul

 

Looks in great shape that. Pretty close to being ready to accept the boiler I imagine. Any infor on how close to completion that is?

 

Thanks for that Paul, it's been quite a while since I've been round Toddington so I imagine there a few things radically different to last time by now.

 

Thanks for all the replies especially Paul's photo. 4270 seems to be sneaking it's way to completion somewhat under the radar.

 

Things are looking up for this class (which was overlooked by preservationists in the 1960s), with 4253 en route to a working future on the KESR and 4270 looking as if it may not be too far from completion. Great picture, Paul. I'm sure 4270 will be a most welcome addition to the GWSR fleet. 7903 goes out of ticket soon, and 5542 is only booked ot stay for 6 months. As things stand, this would currently leave only 2807 and 8274 to handle services on a line that will be 12 miles long by the end of the year

 

Surely 35006 must be in the pipelines for soonish ?.

 

I thought 7903 had another year or two (subject to the boiler inspector being happy)?

35006 is in the home straight and may be one for 2013?

 

Last time I was over at Winchcombe, someone said about another year for 7903, but I'm only passing on a comment second hand. Hopefully someone in the know can provide some more accurate info.

As a Southern man living in exile, I'm really looking forward to having a working Bulleid pacific only 20 miles from home, so 35006's return can't come too soon for me. More to the point, however, is that 2807, 4270, 7903 (if it has longer than I was told before withdrawal) 8274 and 35006 hardly amount to a superfluity of motive power for a 12-mile line, so I hope the 2013 guesstimate for 35006 won't be far off.

 

Bear in mind that the GWSR doesn't run quiteas much s some other lines. I'd have thought they'd be operating with three engines in steam at most, so three out of five at any one time is probaly not going to strain the fleet. Maybe 92203 will return as well.

 

A bit of info on 4270 (amongst others) on the GWSR site today:

GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - Locomotive update