Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway’s No.822 – The Earl

The heavy overhaul of No.822, The Earl, from the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway was completed during 2021 within our workshop at Aberystwyth and it has now returned to its home railway and begun to haul passenger trains, upon completion of testing.

During May, June and July 2021 there was a big push within our workshop to get the engine completed. The loco has had new springs fitted but first all the spring hangers and anchor points were built up and machined. This was so that the springs could move freely and reduce the chance of them breaking. The large rods on the motion were white metaled and machined and other parts of the valve gear were re-bushed. The motion was then finally reassembled. The valve timing was then set using our workshop winches.

Once this was completed, the boiler could be re-fitted. The boiler had a hydraulic test before installation and two stays replaced. A new stainless steel smokebox and ashpan were then fabricated and fitted to the boiler. The boiler was then had the cladding re-fitted and was painted. The boiler was then finally placed in the frames.
The tanks and new bunker were fitted and new fire iron hooks, to the original pattern, manufactured and fitted to the rear of the bunker. The cab was then fitted and a lot of the plumbing replaced with new copper pipes. All the fittings had previously been serviced and repaired and they were fitted back on to the boiler. The cab windows were refitted including a new one manufactured in the workshop.

The loco was then finally painted and sign written before a final steam test in the workshop. The loco was then transported back to the WLLR and tested and commissioned over the next few days. A few minor issues were sorted out and very soon the loco was out pulling trains for the rest of the season.