1638 re-enters traffic after 42 years and 37 days away!

Video clip of 1638 approaching Sharpthorne tunnel on the maiden trip
(Windows Media File)

Restoration history for 1638 - the 13 year restoration update collection

Progress on 847's overhaul

Saturday 18th February and 1638 is back!

Picture Courtesy of Chris Taylor

Well she may or may not be your idea of a baby, but she's certainly mine. It was 13 years ago that I along with many others got to know this engine. "A fast restoration job... we'll have her done in 3 years" is what I foolishly believed. I quickly found out of course that this is a by product of the essential optimism that enables restorations to happen against the odds in the first place. You can find out about the restoration of 1638 through the past restoration updates here, but this is about the day, the day that made everything worthwhile. She ran superbly hauling her first passenger load at the head of the members special at 1.30pm on Saturday the 18th February 2006. She steamed very well and looked a million dollars, which is not too much in excess of what has gone into her if everything is added up accountant style! Ach! mere money... this is more about the experience so lets take a look at what happened and why we are so proud of her.

To be honest we were always going to win this one, the "Cleanest Engine Today" award! When I arrived she was receiving attention from numerous polishers and cleaners. No engine could look smarter. The weather was wet, I suppose is the polite way of putting it. The paint being fresh multi layered and shiny made the rain run down the side in beads, and made the steam more voluminous, adding to the atmosphere.

A stroll around the engine, as she simmered outside the shed awaiting the appointed time became a chance for reflection on years of work. Parts that I made or had a hand in were scrutinised, odd really as I scrutinised them really well when they were made and they hadn't changed! "I did that bit whilst so and so did that other bit", and so on. I guess we all must have done that. 1638 has had the attention of a lot of people when you add them all up. People past and present are what a lot of 1638 is about to my mind, and this was never better in focus than upon reading the head code disc, and then climbing onto the footplate, where I found this small plaque.

This is all about George Nickson of course, sadly no longer with us who "rescued" the engine from Barry in 1980. She was the wreck you see here then of course, and was initially a spares purchase. No George would have equalled no engine. He just fell over a year short of seeing the engine back in business. A check through the restoration archive shows he was often around. I even found him on the original update. That's him at the front walking past the frames grabbing a look. Thanks George... "once met never forgotten".... said the headcode disc...never a truer word....

So a check on the footplate revealed our very own Barry Smith at the shovel and Jock McKay on the drivers seat. All was tidy and the tea was in the enamels keeping warm nicely

The time came soon enough and 1638 eased into the station. The rain meant that the modest sized platform canopy on Platform 2 at Sheffield Park had to house us all. Roy Watts, on behalf of the Bluebell recalled U class in action, and thanked the society for the job they had done, before inviting our own Chairman Ray Bellingham to step up to the microphone. He may have shown apprehension in advance of his speech, but nerves didn't show too much, and if they had no one would have minded, for everyone was on his side anyway!! A vote of thanks went out and a photo opportunity was seized before, with a sounding of the whistle we were off.

And away we went. Here are some of the pictures to tell the rest of the day. No one could be happier than the people on board enjoying the moment; they had worked hard enough for it!

The idea of a restoration (as far as we are concerned anyway) is that the engine works. It is certainly an appropriate size and power for the Bluebell line; a valuable addition. Nothing would please us more than if you would go along and see her, and have a ride behind her too. Be sure to take a close look and reflect perhaps on what it takes to get a Maunsell engine back on the rails, where it belongs, at the head of a rake of coaches doing the business.

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