2807 during the GWSR Mixed traffic gala in October
This is the first time the loco has been black in preservation
CSPL are pleased to present a brand-new preservation livery for our locomotive!!
2807 has been repainted into GWR war time black for the
first time in preservation, actually it’s the first time in black since is
withdrawal from service in the 1960’s, may be even post war 1945/6.
The loco will be appearing at the GWSR mixed traffic gala on
the weekend 26th/27th October along side the other
resident steam and diesel locos based at the GWSR.
In mid-November the loco will leave for a Christmas Season
visit to the South Devon Railway as part of the their “Polar Express Experience”.
it will remain at the SDR until Jan 2025.
The locomotive will remain in its war time livery for the
whole of 2025. CSPL see this as a fitting commemoration of 80 years since the
end of World War 2 and the role undertaken by the GWR, all the rail companies, and
the national network.
2807 is currently "resting" at Toddington have completed a good number of steaming's over the summer.
The loco has had a boiler wash out and the support team are working through and list of minor maintenance issues
Work is ongoing on the "rebuild" of our own tender, the frames are being riveted back together after extensive work various parts of the frames, stretchers and new drag boxes front and rear. The support team have also commenced work on the tender tank.
The loco is next rostered for the Autumn GWSR mixed traffic gala in late October.
Please keep watching this Blog or the Facebook page for further exciting news of the loco prior to the GWSR GALA.
If you did not know, this weekend 25th to 27th May the GWSR is having another steam gala!
2807 will be in service along with many others.
Below are some pictures of the loco now back now back in service following its short visit in Ian Riley's for some engineering work.
The Board and Directors of CSPL are pleased to confirm that the work that required the loco to be moved to Ian Riley's Engineering (Heywood) has been completed.
The loco will be moved by road back to the GWSR on Friday 26th April and it will be "all hands to the pump" to recommission the loco as soon as possible.
The CSPL support team have a detailed plan and will work closely with the GWSR Steam Department Management to get the loco back into operational service.
I know people will now speculate when and all we can say at this time is " as soon as possible"
If anyone has any questions then please contact me, Brian Gamlin, on brian_gamlin@yahoo.co.uk
The CSPL Board and support team are currently getting the locomotive ready for a move to Ian Riley's Engineering later this week.
The loco will remain with the engineering team at Heywood for a number of weeks to address the current issues.
We have a joint plan to return the loco to service asap.
Loco loaded and set to start its journey north early on Thursday (11th April)
Top work by the CSPL support team this week in getting her ready to move!!
CSPL has temporarily withdrawn its locomotive Great Western 2-8-0 No.2807 from operations at the GWSR.
We are still in the first year of bedding in the engine post a 3 1/2 year Heavy General Overhaul(HGO), issues have arisen that are best to address now. The loco is being moved to Ian Riley's facility in Heywood, Lancs, to address these minor issues asap.
Happy New Year!
2807 has completed 25 steaming days since her return to operations in Oct 2023, the feed back from the footplate crews has been very positive and the engine has performed very very well.
We are now in a period of downtime at the GWSR and the various departments across the railway are deep in to winter maintenance as are we.
The CSPL Support will check the loco from top to bottom during this period as well as address any issues that have been identified during the last couple of months in operation.
Work continues on our own tender, we are starting the process of putting a everything back together with a focus of having it operational and behind the boiler and frames later this year.
Following are a few photos of the latest work at Toddington!
2807 made an appearance at the GWSR Autumn Gala. Photos and videos can be seen on the CSPL Facebook page. YouTube also has some video.
1min 57sec into the below video, some great footage of 2807
(7) Gloucestershire Warwickshire Autumn Showcase Gala!! Featuring the return of 2807 - YouTube
Below are a few photos of 2807 on Sunday 29th October 2023.
Below is a video from you tube leading 35006 double headed through Hailes Abbey halt.
More pictures can be found on the CSPL Facebook page.
Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) | Facebook
HOT OFF THE PRESS!!
2807 is scheduled to operate on the Sunday of the Autumn Steam Gala
2807 is oldest GWR locomotive in working order once again
· Churchward 2-8-0 moves following three-year
overhaul
· CSPL Chairman: ‘an exciting moment as the wheels turned for the first time’
12 October 2023: Churchward 28xx class no. 2807 is, once again, the oldest working Great Western Railway locomotive having moved under its own power for the first time following its three-year overhaul.
The event took place at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s (GWSR) Toddington depot, the ‘heavyweight champion’ 2-8-0 running up and down the yard.
There are only two other GWR locomotives that are older than 2807, which emerged from Swindon Works in 1905: they are celebrated 4-4-0 no 3717 City of Truro (built 1903) and ‘Dean Goods’ 0-6-0 no. 2516 (of 1897), both of which are at STEAM Museum, Swindon and are not likely work again.
The Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd (CSPL) heavy freight 2-8-0 was brought into steam on Thursday 21 September at about 18.00 and, during the rather wet evening, ran a few miles within the confines of the yard.
Explains Brian Gamlin, Chairman of CSPL, “It was a very exciting moment for the restoration team who witnessed the fruits of their dedicated labour over the past three years.
“There remain outstanding tasks as well as the inevitable ‘snags’ to be fettled, that showed themselves as the engine gently moved up and down the sidings. But there is actually remarkably little to do and we are now setting about finishing off the job list so 2807 can be returned to traffic on the GWSR. The day was an outstanding success.
“The next milestones will be further movements within the yard followed by a full day’s light engine running. There will then be a loaded test run before 2807 can reliably re-enter service.”
He added: “There was of course that moment the team held their breath when steam issued from the cylinder drain cocks as the regulator was opened, watching for the first movement – which generated a huge cheer!”
It is anticipated that the locomotive will be sufficiently completed in time to debut during the GWSR’s ‘Autumn Showcase’ gala over the weekend of 28-29 October. This event combines both steam and diesel locomotives working to an intensive timetable, including a goods train although at present it’s not expected that 2807 will be hauling trains.
However, Brian Gamlin points out the importance of completing remaining tasks to the highest possible standards rather than rushing it to a deadline.
Tender detail being completed
About 2807
The 2800 class was designed by George Jackson Churchward for heavy freight work. The prototype was completed in 1903, with the production locomotives following in 1905 following extensive testing of the prototype, no. 97 (later no. 2800). It was not only the first class of 2-8-0 to work in the UK, but at the time also the most powerful class of locomotive to run in the UK.
In all 167 were built, including C B Collett’s slightly-modified 2884 class. The success of the class was such that they continued working until the early 1960s, no. 2807 being withdrawn in 1963 from Severn Tunnel Junction having covered some 1.5 million miles and consigned to Barry scrapyard in South Wales.
Rescued by CSPL in 1981, 2807 was
the first locomotive from Barry to arrive at the formative GWSR at
Toddington. Following a lengthy
overhaul, the locomotive entered service in 2010, putting in ten years and some
42,000 miles of dependable service before being withdrawn in January 2020 for
its ten-year overhaul, which has been completed in just three years. The boiler was overhauled by Riley & Son
(E) Ltd engineers in Heywood, Bolton while the mechanical overhaul was
completed by volunteers at Toddington.
Parts keep appearing from storage and need a fresh coat of paint.
Below Geof is painting the covers for the water feed pipes, these attach to the boiler cladding and cover the water feed pipes that attach to the clack valves
Paint has been applied to the safety valve bonnet and cab side number plate. Some one has been hard at work with the Brasso too!!
In the coming days I hope to update this blog with some key dates of when 2807 will return to service at the GWSR
Today in front of the BES inspector an in-frames Steam test was complete successfully for GW2807!
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Work will continue over the coming weeks to start the next phase of the HGO in readiness for moving the loco under its own steam.
Keep watch here progress and updates
Its hard to keep up with progress as the CSPL team are working every day to get things back onto the loco.
We are very close to the in frame steam test and, when signed off by the Boiler Inspector, we will be looking to move 2807 and start the shakedown and running in process.
We will keep you updated on here and our Facebook Page
(1) Cotswold Steam Preservation Limited (CSPL) | Facebook
Fitting the super heater elements
A view from below of the blow down pipe and ash pan door linkages. Also the left hand ride injector
you can see the hard work that has been put in by the team and cleaning everything!!
Next three photos are us test fitting the water feed pipes to the clack valves now that the boiler cladding has been fitted
