5542 The Planets favorite Prairie

2011/ 2012 10 year boiler overhaul click here for progress

News Update 17/11/2011

It is with great regret that the board have to report that, despite every assurance from senior members of the WSR management and board, an agreement had been

completed to see 5542 running on the West Somerset Railway for a significant period, we have now been notified that our locomotive will not now be required.

We apologise and understand the disappointment to those loyal members and supporters who had hoped to see 'their' loco based back in West Somerset

This will not impact on the boiler overhaul currently underway which is progressing to plan and budget .

We will now explore other options to operate our locomotive and are confident suitable work is available.

With the 15.30 Auto service from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren on 02/10/2011 5542 propels

its penultimate service of the first 10 year boiler certificate past Longlands Farm.(above)

Within 90 minutes of the above photo 5542 was loaded and departing for Buckfastleigh (below) Both photos copyright John Wood

With just 4 days remaining on its 10year boiler certificate 5542 drifts into Williton at the head of a short engineers train 29/09/11 (copyright John Wood)

During 2011 we are looking to boost our funds to allow us to continue the

good progress made on the restoration of our G.W.R. Autotrailer 169

Please click on the logo above for more details of the project.

5542 Visiting the Great Central Railway during Summer 2011

5542 Delivers the mail http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLM9xKVTX4g

or http://rickeborall.zenfolio.com/p766450335/h6e20f7#h2be1b430

We are pleased to announce that following its appearance in the GWSR/GCR Gr8 Escape

event over the weekend 9th/10th April 5542 will remain on the GCR for most of the Summer

returning for a short visit to the WSR to appear in the Autumn Gala 29September-02 October

en route to the SDR for its 10 year boiler overhaul which will commence on 03 October.

News June 2011

5542 continues her visit to the GCR and for the first time since restoration we have had to undertake some small

repair work on the boiler. We had been notified of a leaking tube and had expected the problem to be one of

corrosion after 10 years of use, however that was not the case and a fine split around part of the circumference

was discovered on the inside line of the front tubeplate. By coincidence a group of boiler inspectors were on an

educational visit to Loughborough and were interested in the unusual nature of the failure along with the exceptionally

small amount of wear and corrosion on the tube itself. The offending tube was successfully replaced along with a

washout that was due and the loco was soon ready for further service. We are currently in active discussion

about contracts for operating 5542 following the forthcoming boiler overhaul and hope to be able to give

more details within the next couple of months.

5542 Stands outside Loughborough works on 21st May Copyright John Wood

VERY URGENT APPEAL

Our friends and the major host of our locomotive over the last 4 years, The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

have been hit by another major landslip on their track, this time near Winchcombe. They are an all volunteer operation

and now very urgently need the British Railway Preservation movement's support in a very big way. If you can help

in any way whatsoever please visit this link and make a contribution to their appeal

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05/12/2010 Chris Van den Arend

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of one of our original shareholders and longstanding supporters.

Chris has been involved in all things WSR since 1975 and has always maintained a calm and inpartial view, turning his hand

to anything that needed doing to make or keep the trains running. His presence at Williton station will be sadly missed by all

who have had any involvement in running or travelling on WSR trains since 1976

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Final Boiler exam of the current ticket

Read about here

What a difference 10 years make

Click to see what 5542 at the SVR looked like in 2000 and the same shots now

DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS OF 5542 YOU WANT TO SHARE?

FANS PHOTOS HAVE THEIR OWN PAGE

THE PLANETS FAVOURITE PRAIRIE

I'm a poet and didn't know it
Said the driver for a fiver.
As he made his cup of tea
with water from the PFP.
Now steam is up, 'tis time to start
a journey along beside the Dart
up and down the Devon line
push and pulling 169
'til at last it's back to shed
and head for home and then to bed.