Time for an update!

Time for an update!

Since our AGM, progress has significantly ramped up with the restoration of D6703 over at UKRL in Leicester. With the power unit installed and associated commissioning work well underway, attention recently turned to the state of the bodywork.

This has held up surprisingly well in some areas since the loco was withdrawn from traffic over a decade ago, but not well enough in others to hide that passing of time. The current plan is to bring D6703 back to Dereham by rail, but in order to do so, any body work deemed to be a risk to the public (i.e corroded sections with sharp edges) need removing/rectifying before the loco can be deemed safe and passed for a mainline move.

The main areas of concern were identified as the cabsides, under the radiators and around the headcode boxes. A decision was taken to replace metalwork in these areas, to A) make the loco safe to travel and B) complete key bodywork repairs that would have needed to be done regardless as part of the restoration.

The pictures here show one of the cabsides following removal of the offending metalwork in late May. Be sure to keep an eye on our social feeds in the coming days and weeks as we chronicle the work that has followed since then.

As always, thank you for continuing to support us and we hope that what follows will help reward you for that patience!

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Photos courtesy of UKRL