In 2023 the boiler certificate for Katie, the 0-6-0 Well tank locomotive build by Arn Jung of Jungenthal Germany in 1931, expired. A 10 year detailed inspection was due and we were aware of some leaks on the well tank. A complete strip down and check was started in early 2023.

Sunday 2nd June 2019 – 1940s Steam Event Day This event day is always a lot of fun with a variety of reenactors and enthusiasts bringing displays, vehicles and artefacts to commemorate those who had to endure such a difficult time in our recent history. From the front line to the home front, there’ll be […]

We had our first steam event day of the year on the first Sunday in May and what a glorious day it was! We were blessed with fabulous sunshine, beautiful bluebells and the visitors came out in droves – by far our busiest event day in many years which was such a welcome boost for […]

This is the third year our friends at Yew Tree Farm School have been with us at Bredgar Railway and those frequent visitors will have noticed a change in their activities in recent months. When the school first arrived, they provided one to one teaching for children with special educational needs, children’s farming clubs as […]

The routine of cleaning and light maintenance continues with the locos, with one of our younger and one returning volunteer enjoying the work. Zambezi was out of traffic for replacement of a main steam pipe gasket and fitting of a new top of the chimney. A local college took on the fabrication work for the […]

Progress in the workshop has changed direction with a couple of unplanned jobs. The first one is to replace the exhaust pipes on Lady Joan, as we found some extensive corrosion on one in the base of the smokebox just above the concrete seal. Luckily we had some spares in stock which required some machining […]

Work has started on the restoration of a second coach bogie, this one is cobbled together from parts we had is store in the quarry. Many of the parts are in a very poor condition which will require quite a lot of work, such as the cross shafts having new ends made, these carry the […]

Most of the work over the last few weeks in the workshop has been preparing three locos for the official steam testing, this will be completed in the next few weeks with Eigiau, Victory and Zambezi rejoining the fleet. We have done our own steam testing to ensure all is well with the various door […]

The last few weeks in the workshop have been quite busy with a private hire for a group from Swanley, boiler testing, Fire engine work and coach lighting. The private hire which was a driver experience for quite a large group of model engineers using Katie and Victory, it was a very enjoyable day for […]

Although it has been a quiet start to the year, things in the workshop are progressing. The gold tractor is in for some TLC, as you can see with bits all over the workshop it is a big job. Helga had another steam test which was successful this time. Before Christmas we did steam her, […]