Boiler is focus of Williton Hudswell restoration

RESTORATION of the one-time flagship of the long-defunct Coventry Steam Railway Centre is well into the reassembly stage at the Williton works of West Somerset Restoration as attention turns to the locomotive’s boiler.

Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0T No. 1857 (built 1952) has never steamed since entering preservation in 1975, and is undergoing a contract restoration by Ryan Pope.

**Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0T No. 1857 at Williton on March 22 looking almost like a complete locomotive, albeit minus its boiler, which can be seen on the right. GARY BOYD-HOPE**

The loco has been stripped down to the bare frames, with Mr Pope and a small team of helpers having completely rebuilt the bottom end of No. 1857, which is now at the rolling chassis stage.

Article continues below...
Advert