LOCOMOTIVE NEWS

46464, the Carmyllie Pilot, is near to returning to traffic. Following the successful hydraulic and steam tests it was all hands on the tools to get the boiler to a stage where it could be refitted into the frames. This took place on Tuesday, 27th February 2024; it was a close-run thing for Iain Smith as he had attended a hospital appointment at Ninewells in Dundee around lunchtime before heading for Aviemore. Iain was under the impression that the lift was to be done on a Wednesday morning, so he thought he had plenty of time to get there. However, the preparation for the lift had gone very well, and the weather on the 27th was good - no wind - so the decision was taken to do the lift that day! Just as Iain was arriving in Aviemore, Max Maxwell phoned him to ask where he was as they were ready to return the boiler into the frames, so he made it by the closest of margins. The lift went without trouble, with the boiler being under the limits of the railway’s crane. With the boiler back in the frames, the huge task of reinstalling the remaining cab fittings and associated pipe work began in earnest.

The boiler cladding work is by far one of the most onerous tasks and has been carried out mostly by Nathan (he's an expert at it due to his previous work with 5025), Seonagh, and Rory, assisted by others. He has probably lost count of just how many times sections of cladding were on and off again.

On the 11th of April, after seven weeks of hard graft by all involved, the locomotive was at a stage of completion that she could be steamed once more for a trial prior to the boiler inspector’s visit on the 16th. The purpose of this was to check if we had any major issues; as with any restoration of a steam locomotive, there were some issues, but we were confident that we could at least try and see that she would actually move under her own power. So around 11:40, Iain lit the fire, and over the following hours, steam pressure was gradually raised, and around teatime that evening, Iain was given the honour of moving her for the first time in 44 years. With a bit of heaving to get her into forward gear, followed by volcanic eruptions of steam from the cylinders, she MOVED! It was truly a very moving occasion for everyone. Iain admits that “the eyes did water up a bit” and no wonder – he has been involved with 46464 since 1989.

In Iain’s words – “We managed to take her from number two road down to the coaling stage, but due to an issue with the regulator, we were unable to return and had the disappointment of being towed back to the shed by the Vanguard shunter. Feeling a bit deflated, everybody did say to me that was the main reason that she needed to be steamed to identify any problems prior to her final inspection and considering the huge and lengthy restoration that had just taken place, I think we got off lightly in the number of things that could have given problems”.

The next four days were spent sorting the various minor problems that had come to light on the 11th. Those who were around early on 13th April might have been lucky enough to witness two Ivatts moving chimney to chimney, a sight unseen by 46464 since 1960. (This was to allow the Vanguard shunter to be released from road 2 in the shed). With the repairs carried out, a fire was lit once more on 15th April in preparation for the visit of boiler inspector Peter Hawkins on the 16th. With steam raised one more by 7 p.m. that night, we set off again for a trundle down the yard. This time, we got back! We then spent the next couple of hours running her up and down the yard, eventually putting her back to bed around 9 p.m.

With the grate and ashpan cleaned, a new fire was lit for the ‘Big Day’, and by 2 p.m., Peter had done all his inspections. 46464 now had a new ‘boiler ticket’ and was officially allowed to move under her power for the first time in 44 years.

Later that evening, the team took the engine and a brake van from Aviemore to Boat of Garten for some running. Over the following few days, a few more snags that had come to light were attended to, and she was put in steam once on 25th April with an engine and brake van trip from Aviemore to Broomhill. This was followed by two more return trips using the running set of coaches; all went well. To date (11th May) she has completed about 100 miles of running in.

On Monday, 29th April, she was shunted into the C&W shop for craftsman painter Murray Duncan to do his stuff; the team is grateful to him for offering to undertake this task.

This marks a significant milestone for The Carmyllie Pilot Company Ltd. and the small team of five individuals who started the restoration efforts at Bridge of Dun in 2000. It was there that much of the dismantling took place before starting to rebuild her. Many major jobs were done there under canvas all year round, just two days a week, for many years. Due to our long-standing relationship with the Strathspey Railway, we were invited by the Strathspey Railway Company to base the locomotive at Aviemore. An agreement was formalised in November 2019, and the locomotive returned there for the final stages of reconstruction in February 2020.

The Carmyllie Pilot Company Ltd team thanks the late Ian N. Fraser’s family, especially David & Barbara Fraser, for their enduring support over the last 24 years and more. They also thank the directors, shed staff, and volunteers at the Strathspey Railway for their invaluable contribution to returning the locomotive to steam. We also wish to thank the Strathspey Railway Association and its members for their financial contributions over the last four years towards the cost of materials needed to achieve 46464’s return to steam.

We anticipate an official return to traffic in early summer. “Lang May Her Lum Reek”, as Ian Fraser would have said.