5542 10 year boiler overhaul

Photo of the steam test and of the great team at Buckfastleigh now on 10 Year Overhaul

 

After the steam test work has continued on reassembly and repainting 5542. Full details and photos on 10 Year Overhaul

 

News and photos of progress - and a slight setback - on 10 Year Overhaul

If you'd like to help financially please visit Donations

 

5542's overhaul is nearing completion - see 10 Year Overhaul

The SDR Jubilee Gala has 5542 rostered to work a regular 2 coach 'Branch Line' working during the event which runs for all 4 days of the Bank Holiday weekend. A real taste of how things used to be. The evening timetable sees us working until almost midnight on one of the days. Why not pay a visit?

 

In the temporary absence of our webmaster and knowing how we all like a good 'livery debate' I am attaching a couple of pictures of the final livery being applied to 5542 See it for yourselves at the SDR Jubilee Gala .

John

 

Nice! Shirtbuttons are all too rare on operating locos. I can only think of 3650.

 

Is not the shirtbutton about twice as big as it should be?

David

 

More photos of 5542's new livery now on 10 Year Overhaul

 

Maybe its in homage to the railway its due to spend most of the year with?

 

I think it looks fantastic! Can't wait to see 5542 in action in this brilliant livery!

Thanks,
Lewis

 

More photos of the new livery plus of today's work on 10 Year Overhaul

 

GWR Shirt Buttons came in two sizes

12" and 15-16"

12" being used on tank engines, thats what size 3650's is, 7202's will also be that size. Cookham Manor being a Tender Engine has the larger one I think.

Also the roundel should be lined with Black. But its there engine there choice.

 

Cookham's is 12" as per Drawing No. 103716A issued July 1934. Letter stroke width is 3/4" gilt, edged with 1/16" black; enclosing circle is 1/4" gilt & 1/4" black. Standard instructions were to avoid rivets if at all possible (usually by placing the device as near to the C/L as you could, but shifted to the right).

7808's were sprayed when I was testing various gold paints (as was 1363), however 3650, 1289 & 9002's Roundels are done in 23ct Gold Leaf. I fully expect The Mob to cough up for a book or two when the Great Day comes.

I don't know where this notion of two different sizes of roundel comes from, but until someone can prove the existence of the Mystery Large Roundel (i.e. quote me a drawing number), I'm sticking to 12"*.

Pete S,
C&W Dept.,
GWS Didcot.

*(other sizes are available, but will be subject to a 'Historically Inaccurate Surcharge' of £500 for each offence).

 

Thank you for further clarity Pete. We was discussing it on Saturday, but with a drawing number quote you can't get better than that.
Thanks again and keep up your excellent work

Matt

 

Well, one of the criticisms of the roundel on locos was that it tended to get 'lost' on a large panel - you'd have a job missing 5542's!

 

The overhaul is basically complete - 5542 moved under her own steam today! See the Chairman's message on News Page

 

Final touches being made to 5542 ready for re-entry into public train haulage at the weekend on the South Devon Railway. See 5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie for full details of the overhaul.

 

5542 has been out on the South Devon Railway today! Photos on News Page

 

Wonderful to see 5542 back in steam after such a quick overhaul and full marks to the group.

This is going to sound like total froth-pedantry but now, looking at the images of the whole loco with that roundel on, it just doesn't look right to me, quite offputting.