2026 Entries/Returnees and Withdrawals

4253 should be next year, all things being equal. Boiler is off for what is hoped will be the final time, for the ashpan to be fitted, and associated works.

Can only presume that, as no mention of 68078 arriving at TWW has been made, that it's still at Sellindge.

USA tank 65 has steamed, and moved, but has come apart again for a further repair. Shouldn't be too long.

Charwelton is due back to the K&ESR in November.

 

The 4253 team posts regular monthly updates which give a pretty comprehensive summary of progress, if you're particularly interested in this engine.

 

Which may well be true, but I think I saw on FB the other day that the boiler has had an out-of-frames steam test, so it's progressing.

EDIT: Sorry, there are photos in the Bulleid thread, but I hadn't read that!

 

I have some how missed these updates - thanks for sharing the link allowing me to watch with interest.

 

To paraphrase the old saying, the first 90% of the overhaul takes 90% of the time, and the last 10% takes the other 90%.

On the good news front, 7714's withdrawal has been postponed from November 2026 to Summer 2027 (hopefully I won't jinx anything by saying that!)

 

HC 1544 'Slough Estates No.3' has quietly slipped back into service at the Middleton Railway after a 10 year overhaul which included a new main frame stretcher between the cylinders, a new cab roof, bunker and tank repairs, a retube and the usual fettling of bearings, injectors, etc. The loco has also been generously donated to the Railway by the Slough & Windsor Railway Society, its previous owners.

 

Hudswell Clarke 1208 Illingworth returned to traffic this week following a boiler overhaul at the ELR

 

So 68078's destined for the Spa Valley? The other genuine J94 survivor (68077)'s also based there.

 

I think there was something in one of the recent SLL updates that said they were restoring, or helping with the restoration of the loco.
I could be mistaken though!

 

That may have been their own Austerity, Norman.

 

The update I read was SLL looking forward to 68078 moving to a new home ‘soon’ (this was in ‘25) after which SLL’d have space for something they wanted to do on the site.

 

J94 68078 is one of those restorations that seems to have been carried out very privately, without campaigns, updates or photographs showing progress. Having found that the company had been wound up, I'd shared my concerns previously hoping that all was still in a positive situation given that there hasn't been anything I've seen in the railway press since the announcement that the restoration would be completed about two years ago? The regular SLL "mad" videos from Hope Farm have seemingly also ceased although explanation at the time was both understandable and reasonable

 

I don’t think it was, as I know they are working on Norman, but I thought “this is new”!

 

What little I know suggests the people involved in 68078 have always been involved with other railways and/or restoration projects therefore both work and funding on this very slow restoration may have had to fit in between many other projects.

@Fireline previously reported the company was wound up simply because changes to company rules meant that kind of structure no longer suited the needs of this small ownership group.

If the owners are not ‘social media’ types, or do not want publicity, then no one else is likely to publicise it. Presumably if the loco is nearly ready and a destination agreed, the host railway will announce (or be unable to hide) the arrival when it happens. Hoping it’s soon.