The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust is pleased to announce that it has come to an
agreement with Mid-Hants Railway Ltd. to overhaul our smaller locomotive at its
Ropley works. Kilmersdon arrived at the MHR in March from its hire over the past
two years at the Helston Railway. From March, no time was lost in preparing the
engine for an assessment to allow discussions to take place regarding its future.
During the assessment it became apparent that Kilmersdon required a number of
important issues attended to including firebox work and new tyres which were
roughly half the thickness they were when new.
Kilmersdon has now been completely dismantled and the boiler is already in the
boiler shop at Ropley where the overhaul will now commence. It is anticipated that
the overhaul will be complete by next spring so that the engine can begin revenue-
earning days at the MHR’s Thomas event plus other steaming days throughout the
year. The agreement will secure the future of Kilmersdon for the S&DRT and we look
forward to seeing the engine in traffic once more.
ENDS – Roger Hardingham, S&DRT Ltd.
roger@railwayvideo.com
A Press Statement document is available here.
[Photos by Rod Ormston, Richard Bentley and Matt Bentley.]