We started the year with a Volunteer-led deep clean of the engine at Bridgnorth, including steam cleaning between the frames.

Due to loco shortages the SVR requested to defer cylinder re-bore yet again, until the autumn. There were concerns from the Society that the piston could impact at the step in wear at the end of the cylinder, moreover the level of wear was at, or in excess of, BR limits. Neil Taylor agreed to arrange for new cylinder liners to be cast in readiness for the job. After much soul-searching we all came to the conclusion that we should allow the loco to remain in traffic, subject once again to mileages being reduced.

For the second time a crew ran with the tender handbrake hard on, this time departing from Kidderminster, causing more severe damage to the tender’s rear wheelset. This time wheels had to be turned and repairs were carried out at London Midland DMU depot at Tyseley.

The tender derailed during a run-round in Kidderminster Station in May. This was thought to be partly due to freshly turned tyres climbing the rail. One early lid-type axlebox keep was broken, while another one was broken soon afterwards by the JCB while coaling at Bridgnorth. They were both replaced by the later cork-type keeps borrowed from ‘Hagley Hall’. This left the loco running with three cork-type keeps on one side and three lid-type the other.

In May, it was noted that the total mileage in six years since completion of the overhaul exceeded 48,000 miles, more than was achieved over nearly ten years of the previous service period. Clearly 2857 was earning her keep!