Overhauls, restorations and running notes

In the first 15 years of its life as a heritage line, steam on the West Somerset Railway underwent a remarkable transformation, from humble industrials to stars from the National Collection.

Sixty years ago this month, on March 6 1966, the Western Region achieved two major goals with the end of both steam power and the Somerset & Dorset route – bringing a mighty era to a rather grubby end.

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While several locomotives with Somerset & Dorset links have survived into preservation, two of the line’s biggest survivors, ‘7Fs’ Nos. 53808 and 53809 will be missing this anniversary due to overhauls.

‘Dean Goods’ No. 2513 is Britain’s latest new-build project, but far from being another pieinthe-sky scheme, this project stands a very good chance of delivering on its promises, as THOMAS BRIGHT explains.