2807 arrives at Toddington station during the Vintage Weekend - April 2026 - Photo courtesy of Jack Boskett
Well, what a month it's been. I seem to have been stuck aboard the proverbial express that departed mid-April, took a detour via Carnforth MPD, was held by a signal check at Abbots-wood Junction, and is due to arrive back at Toddington in the not-too-distant future. Mind you, it might as well be somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa if the current weather is anything to go by! Does anyone fancy a ride on a camel? Anyway, despite the rather questionable ride quality aboard this particular service, I shall endeavour to update you on what has been going on recently in the steam loco department.
Please note: The following blog covers up until the week prior to the steam gala. I will have more on this soon folks.
Mid-April saw the vintage weekend return, giving visitors the opportunity to experience what many consider to be the golden age of transport, with classic vehicles on display alongside our historic locomotives. Out running on passenger services, flying the flag for steam, were home fleet stalwarts 2807 & 6880. GWR Railcar No. W22 also operated its first revenue-earning services after carrying out gauging test runs a couple of days earlier. A chuffing great success for all!
GWR Railcar No. W22 at Winchcombe station on a test run - 8th April 2026 - Photo courtesy of Dan Wigg
Here is a selection of photographs taken during the weekend; thankfully, the weather played ball, so to speak.
6880 arrives at Gotherington station during the Vintage Weekend - April 2026 - Photo courtesy of Jack Boskett
6880 waits to depart Winchcombe station as 2807 arrives during the Vintage Weekend - April 2026 - Photo courtesy of Jack Boskett
As reported in my previous general blog update on the 19th April, 2807 was unfortunately stopped shortly after the vintage weekend due to an issue with one of the horn guides. You can read the recent updates on the repair below.
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3850 goes on holiday to the West Somerset Railway
Towards the end of April, 3850 headed off to the West Somerset Railway (WSR) for their 2026 'Spring Steam Spectacular' event.
3850 at the West Somerset Railway - 4th May 2026 - Photo courtesy of David Foster
GWR 3850 at the 2026 Spring Spectacular - Filmed along the West Somerset Railway around Kentsford, Washford, Leigh Bridge, Norvis Crossing, and Ker Moor, Somerset, UK, between 1st-4th May 2026 - Video © RTP Media
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2807 / Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) Update W/E 25th April 2026 - Written by Graham Bondi
Unfortunately, we have been unable to get 2807 onto the big hydraulic jacks – they have broken down! There is a problem with the power supply: the voltage drops as an attempt is made to energise them. Hopefully, this can be resolved early next week. Consequently, there was little that could be done today. Roger 3 continued with painting the tender frames.
Apart from a few rivets, Roger has applied black undercoat to the inside of the front drag box, as can be seen above. Roger 3 also applied black gloss to the U girders that sit between the frames and the tank. This means that apart from the front drag box, everywhere has received one coat of gloss – one more to do.
A chance to mention the boot scraper production line. Teresa painted six chairs green and did some needle gunning until Richard arrived to carry on with that job. Fred painted one chair black and then varnished a whole box full of brushes. Consultant Roger 1 was also in briefly. Here’s hoping that we get the jacks working asap.
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76077 / Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited Update - 26th April 2026 - Written by TSLL
Small update from a day's painting at Toddington. The four new tender steps have been shot blasted, and so I gave them a good coat of primer; the tender ladder was also undercoated. These will soon be able to go into the store, ready for when we start construction of the new tender. It’s nice to have them ready to go.
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'Manston' arrives at Toddington
As has been documented in previous instalments, with three members of the home fleet under heavy general overall, the railway was short of serviceable steam traction to operate passenger services. Whilst not all locomotives are required on any given day, each one can only have so many steamings before being taken out of service for a boiler washout. This necessitated a search for an additional locomotive to help bolster the serviceable fleet for the 2026 operating season. We had originally secured 80105, but due to the 4MT requiring attention, this was sadly no longer an option for us.
However, our friends at the Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives Ltd came to the rescue with 34070 'Manston'.
34070 pictured heading for Toddington on the A46, thanks to RSS - 29th April 2026
34070 touches down at Toddington - 29th April 2026 - Photo courtesy of Dan Wigg
On Friday, 1st May 2026, the Southern region giant went through a steam test and fitness-to-run (FTR) exam and was signed off for service. The loco then went into traffic that weekend. It's been a fair number of years since I last saw a 'Spam-Can' on the railway. If my memory serves correctly, it was 34007 at the Cotswold Festival of Steam back in 2015.
Testing, testing, 1 2 3... 34070 undergoing a steam test at Toddington - 1st May 2026 - Photo courtesy of Andy Beale
Inspector Butler out on Manston - 3rd May 2026 - Photo courtesy of Ian Butler
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2807 / Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) Update W/E 2nd May 2026 - Written by Graham Bondi
Much better news this week. The big jacks were repaired and the intermediate axle and wheels dropped out by Ian and co. The problem has been identified and as expected it is a relatively minor repair that has taken a lot of work to access.
As I understand it, one of the small countersunk bolts had worked loose and scoured a phosphor bronze side slide face until it failed. We have the countersunk bolts in stock but will need to get a replacement phosphor bronze side face.
The damaged side slide plate and broken bolt
While waiting for the replacement, we made a good start on cleaning some very messy parts.
In the foreground are the small parts that Ingo and I cleaned up, and behind the larger parts (spring and tie bar) that Dave and Bruce cleaned
Ingo cleaning the small parts: we were very careful not to get them mixed up. Leading and trailing sets were left on cloths in appropriate places on both sides of the loco
Dave and Bruce cleaning the large parts
Gilbert and Teresa were both in attendance too, and Roger M called in to give us an update concerning latest events – our excuse for an hour-long tea break!
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35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N.Co. Progress
In recent weeks, further progress has been made with removing components from the loco, unboxing the boiler, and taking out the superheater elements. The following photos are courtesy of Ash Haines.
One or two things appear to be missing?
The inside of a rather empty looking smokebox!
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DMLL update on 7820 - 7th May 2026 - Courtesy of Mark Sanders
Got lucky with weather today, main cab has final undercoat and will need keying with >500 grit. Rear cab section has first gloss and also needs keying. Chassis rails, front section completed, rear section first gloss (thanks Bob!). Keying the eccentric and motion is a job that needs doing.
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6880 out on 'Fire & Drive' duty
On
Friday, 8th May 2026, I attended Toddington to help prepare 6880 for
another one of our ever popular 'Fire & Drive' days. Whilst the crew
went off for their breakfast, I remained with the loco to ensure that
the fire didn't go out. Fortunately, it didn't, and neither was there an
unplanned test of the safety valves! I did have to pop back to shed to
pick up the missing 'Footplate Experience' headboard, though. You've got to get those all important steps in, one way or another!
GWR meets SR. 6880 & 34070 on shed at Toddington - 8th May 2026
With 6880 out and about, I headed back to shed and assisted with some odd jobs. Here are some photos.
Manston stabled on shed in the morning sunshine - 8th May 2026
Subjective I know, but I think I prefer the rebuilt appearance - 8th May 2026
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2807 / Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) Update W/E 9th May 2026 - Written by Graham Bondi
I was wrong; on both counts! I said we had the countersunk screws in stock. They do not fit, so Bruce spent ages trying to find the right size without any success (not even from eBay). Consequently, he spent much of the week making some. I said there would possibly be a delay getting the phosphor bronze part: Ian found sufficient plate to fabricate the part. Therefore, the repair has been completed.
The screw on the right is one of those originally fitted, but no longer available. The larger screw next to it is the type we have in stock. The bright screw (3rd from right) is the larger of two sizes made by Bruce. It was made from a bolt like the one on the left. The replacement side slide face required careful machining by Ian because it requires a slight taper down from the centre (CL marked) to each end. It was decided a wise move to replace the countersunk screws in the opposite side slide face, so Bruce went home to make some new ones. It is a slow process that means they were not ready by the end of the day.
To enable close inspection of all features of the RHS axle box, whilst we have the wheelset out, it was removed from the axle by Gilbert and myself.
Gilbert removing an outer cover plate.
Removal of the underkeep. This allows the axle box to be slid out on a trolley.
This shows the underkeep momentarily on top of the RHS axle box and the LHS axle-box on a trolley to right of picture. Ingo joined us to remove the axle box and clean it with the power wash.
The LHS box still needed some further cleaning, so we did that too.
The two axle boxes fully cleaned and ready for final inspection by Ian before refitting. There is a lot to do if we are to have 2807 ready for the gala in just two weeks: it is going to be a close call.
Filming is due next week, and we were asked to tidy up as best as possible. Ingo and I turned over the tender tank sump cover plate to show the better-looking painted side, but the paint had been damaged. Ingo applied a fresh coat.
Note the clean floor done by steam dept.
Meanwhile, I carried on with my tool drawer maintenance. There is a drawer labelled “Adjustable Reamers and Spanners” that has more pipe wrenches in it then anything else and make it difficult to find what you want. I emptied the drawer, greased the runners and relocated the wrenches.
I was also wrong about Gilbert’s sorting out of the container: there is a lot more to do than I thought. He spent the afternoon in there.
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76077 / Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited Update - 11th May 2026 - Written by TSLL
Illness, a blocked motorway, a holiday and other things saw only four people manage a full day at Toddington on Saturday. In other news, Graham has been soldiering on at LMS with the cladding. See photos for details.
We’ve had to rework a few bits that were made many years ago for a better fit, we’re nearly there!
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6880 operating on Wednesday 13th May 2026 - Photo courtesy of Graham Bondi
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2807 / Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) Update W/E 16th May 2026 - Written by Graham Bondi
The race against time continues. After getting the wheels back under the loco, Ian had left a list of jobs for the Saturday team and had nominated Bruce as the responsible person. When I arrived, he was responsibly directing Gilbert in the cleaning of parts required to be put back onto 2807.
These were stored in appropriate places.
However, after a short conflab, it was decided we should work from the wheels inward to gain the best access throughout the work of replacing sundry parts under the loco. Accordingly, I fetched the long centre section of the cylinder drain-cocks lever and had a go with the jet washer myself. The three of us carefully threaded the lever into position. I made a temporary connection at the front with an old split pin.
This shows the temporary connection to the pivot and rod that operates the drain-cocks on both sides. I made a more permanent connection at the cab end once I had got the cab lever moved to where the bolts could be put in place.
The lever is supported at its mid-point by a bracket. It was here we met our first obstacle.
Bruce could not find a spanner to fit the nuts, nor any other nuts that would fit: he believes them to be metric since a metric spanner fitted! Next, when trying to tighten the nuts, the bolts kept rotating. These bolts were inaccessible because of the wheel weight. We considered trying to get the loco moved slightly, but Bruce eventually managed to capture the bolt heads whilst I tightened the nuts. Thus, the five-minute job took us up towards lunch time.
In the meantime, Roger 3 had arrived and made a number of new split pins ready for fitting. Gilbert was tightening the underkeep bolts but had struck another problem.
In the meantime, Roger 3 had arrived and made a number of new split pins ready for fitting. Gilbert was tightening the underkeep bolts but had struck another problem.
Above, how they should all look. Below, the best we could manage with one on the LHS because the casting profile precluded the fitting of washers. We hope the fitting of lock nuts will pass muster.
There followed much fitting of washers, locknuts and split pins by the four of us. There was quite a bit of shoulder rubbing in the confined area under the frames.
Roger 3, Bruce and Gilbert’s wrist in action.
A general view of the work completed on LHS (ditto RHS) of which some details are:
Washers, nuts and split pins fitted underneath the tie bars.
Locking nuts and split pins fitted underneath the spring hangers.
Roger 3 had spotted some split pins on the RHS running plate and made a few new copies.
Teresa was working on the boot scrapers and said she would not be in for the Gala weekend. Hopefully none of us will be either, except to admire 2807 performing!
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'Coffee Pot' arrives at Toddington
On the 16th May 2026, the 'Coffee Pot' No. 229 landed in readiness for the steam gala...
It's a bit strange seeing something this small for a change - Photo courtesy of Graham Bondi
229 being winched down the ramp - Photo courtesy of Graham Bondi
Looking very smart in blue - 16th May 2026 - Photo courtesy of Mike Solloway
16th May 2026 - Photo courtesy of Mike Solloway
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DMLL update on 7820 W/E 16th May 2026 - Courtesy of Ken Sims
Good steady progress this week. Driving wheels ready for gloss, both buffers in place and fireman's cabside ready for undercoat - plus various sections of running plate in progress.
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For those of you who use Facebook, here are several GWSR-related groups which are worth following:
DMLL - Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
2874 - The 2874 Trust
35006 - 35006 Group
76077 - Standard Locomotive 76077
THL - The Honeybourne Line - a GWR mainline in the makingThe GWSR recently launched a new website and the various department blogs can all be found here.
34070 'Manston' working a passenger service - Photo courtesy of Robin Boyle
I'll leave you with an important update on 35006, courtesy of Ash...
"With the realisation that Bulleid didn’t account for global warming and the continued burning of fossil fuels. P&O will come out of overhaul with a sliding cab which can be pulled back for extra ventilation on hot days…"
Anyway, I'm off to try and find something cold, preferably an ice cream! I'll have a CFoS 2026 review up soon folks.
Thanks to Ash, Graham, Ken, Mark, CSPL, DMLL, TSLL, and my fellow steam department members for their contributions.
Alex (the sooty one!).
* Please Note: All locomotives are subject to availability and changes may be made at short notice.
All published photographs and videos are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.
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