45163

According to the 45163 Loco Facebook page, an agreement has been reached with Ian Riley for the loco to be completed to main line standards and become part of the Riley main line fleet, on a long term loan basis.
Positive news for all parties.

 

“We are very pleased to be able to make the following announcement:-

Highland ‘Hiker’ bound for main line – and a return to Scotland?

‘Black Five’ No. 45163 for fast-track restoration in partnership with Ian Riley.

Scottish Region ‘Black Five’ No. 45163 could return to its former home ground, with a main line restoration plan in partnership with Ian Riley.
Owning group 45163 Ltd, which has been restoring the Stanier 4-6-0 from Barry scrapyard condition at the Colne Valley Railway, has signed an agreement with the Lancashire-based engineer and main line operator that will see the locomotive return to Network Rail metals in 2027.

Under the deal, 45163 Ltd will retain ownership of the engine which has been in its hands for over 30 years, but Riley & Son (E) Ltd will complete its restoration – and pay for the fitting of air-braking and main line electronic equipment – in return for the long-term loan of the locomotive.

The hire agreement will run for 25 years, and will then end with the return of the locomotive to 45163 Ltd in working order. Provision has also been made for it to visit preserved lines, including the Colne Valley Railway and the West Somerset Railway.

The first parts of the ‘5MT’ are due to be moved north to the works of Riley & Son (E) Ltd at the beginning of September, while 45163 Ltd volunteers will continue work on the remaining components at the CVR.

The engine will effectively become the fourth ‘Black Five’ in Mr Riley’s main line fleet, along with his own Nos. 45407 and 44871, and No. 45212 which is on loan from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

It is anticipated, though not confirmed, that No. 45163 will be a contender for operation on the Fort William to Mallaig ‘Jacobite’ steam specials, along with the other three ‘Black Fives’ in the Riley & Son stable. If so, this will mark something of a homecoming for the 1935-built Armstrong Whitworth engine, which spent the first 15 years of its life in the Scottish Highlands – where these locomotives were nicknamed ‘Hikers’ – working from Perth and Inverness sheds. During its later career allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor, it is also known to have reached Oban.

It last steamed in 1965, being withdrawn from Kingmoor in the week ending May 15 that year, and arrived at Barry that November.

Ironically, main line running was the original plan of its first owner in preservation – Alan Bates, proprietor of London-based jazz record label Black Lion Records, who rescued the engine from Barry scrapyard in 1987 and took it to the Hull Dairycoates base of the Humberside Locomotive Preservation Group. Work undertaken in this period included turning of the tyres and axle journals, and ultrasonic testing of the axles for main line use, at Swindon – which has now helped to pave the way for the new main line return.

Alan Bates put the dismantled engine up for sale in 1991, and it was purchased by 45163 Ltd, a group of CVR members led by the line’s then Chief Mechanical Engineer Jeremy Dunn. Moving the locomotive to Castle Hedingham two years later, the group has since constructed a fully equipped shed and workshop, and fully restored the ‘5MT’s frames, which were re-wheeled on 22 June.

The deal with Ian Riley has, however, been prompted by the increasing age profile of the group’s membership, and the desire to see the locomotive run again in a short timescale.

Jeremy Dunn, Chairman of 45163 Ltd, commented: “The 45163 Restoration Group has achieved an awful lot during the time we have been custodians of 45163, considering our limited resources, having constructed our own undercover full engineering facility at the CVR, envied by many.

“45163 had been heavily stripped as one of the latter locomotives to leave Barry, and it has been a big part of the project to find and fund replacements. Most parts required for the re-build have now been secured, and following extensive frame repairs 45163 has finally been re-wheeled.

“However, it has taken us 30 years to get to this stage, none of us are getting any younger and we have lost a number of active members along the way through ill health and those who have died. As project leader and majority shareholder, I am very conscious of the fact that those who have put so much time and effort into the project thus far should be able to see the engine finished and operating. I include myself in this, having wondered if I will live long enough to see the day when it will be steamed for the first time.

“We have had dialogue with a number of heritage railways over the last 10 years, most of whom approached us with a view to offering fast-track restoration in order to secure the loco for their fleet. However, none have come to fruition. We were already known to Riley & Son as we had sub-contracted some work to them, including machining the cylinder blocks, expansion links and providing new die blocks as well as new valves and valve rods. A conversation in May 2023 raised the possibility to work together to see the engine restored to full working order, in a timescale that addressed my concerns and to main line standards – something that had never formed part of our plans, having thought such aspirations would be out of reach for our group.

“This is an exciting new chapter in which we will see 45163 return to some of her old stomping grounds in Scotland as well as visiting heritage railways. We have ensured that our members can still be involved in the operation of the locomotive and that it will visit railways where some of our members are operational staff. For any of our members who are still around in 25 years time this agreement ensures that the locomotive is returned to the group in full working order.”

Ian Riley said: “You can’t beat a ‘Black Five’.”

The photo below shows Ian Riley shaking hands with 45163 Ltd Chairman, Jeremy Dunn on July 4th 2024 upon signing of the formal agreement between the two parties.”