'Royal Engineer' back on six wheels!

After  more than six months suspended on a cradle of packing outside the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's Havenstreet Carriage & Wagon Workshop, Hunslet 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST No.WD 198 'Royal Engineer' was lowered back onto it's re-profiled wheels on Monday 5th December 2011.

WD198 was withdrawn from service on completion of the Winter 2010/11 train service to enable a number of maintenance jobs to be tackled, the major one being to remove the wheels and send them to the Mainland for turning on the South Devon Railway's wheel lathe. Following the dismantling of the springs and motion, 'Royal Engineer' was lifted off of its wheels during May 2011. With the locomotive jacked up, workshop staff have taken advantage of the easy access to the frames to scrape them down and give them a repaint.  At the same time the dismantled springs were cleaned and some of the motion parts were also repainted.

During November 'Royal Engineer's axle boxes were refitted in the horn guides in preparation for the frames to be lowered back onto the wheels.  Taking advantage of a day of bright winter sunshine, the engineering team carefully lowered the locomotive on 5th December.  'Royal Engineer' is now over an inspection pit for refitting of springs and motion.  A valves and pistons examination will also be carried out, including the fitting of new piston rings to replace the existing set which have been in place for almost 50,000miles.  It is anticipated that all necessary work will be complete in time to allow 'Royal Engineer' to return to passenger service during the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's 2012 operating season.

For an update on locomotive repair, maintenance and operation on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway visit the latest edition of Locomotive News.