THE anticipated overhaul of Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust’s 1889-built Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart B-Class 0-4-0ST (3518/1888) No. 19B at Statfold Barn Railway (RM, February) commenced on January 8.
Progress has been rapid. The boiler was lifted, the tubes removed and the barrel descaled by the end of January ready for examination by the boiler inspector. Fortunately, no significant issues with the boiler have been revealed so far.
The locomotive still has its original 1889 boiler; when lifted the remains of the studs for the original boiler maker’s plate were visible. The only non-original parts are the front tubeplate, tubes, a patch behind the front tubeplate, some stays, the washout bosses and some patches in the firebox. The barrel, dome, throatplate, outer firebox, foundation ring, firehole ring, many of the stays, and almost all the inner firebox are original Low Moor iron or arsenical copper.