In November 2006, the restoration of Gertrude was taken over by a small team at Exmoor Transport. The locomotive was moved from Peter’s home to the restoration team’s base in Devon. The restoration took just over two years and was carried out at a range of sites and with the help of several friends and supporters. The project was entirely financed by Exmoor Transport through the support of the small group of shareholders. The photos below are just a few depicting the restoration of Gertrude during her time in Devon.
One of the first decisions taken was to re-gauge the locomotive from 2ft to 60cm to make her compatible with track standards on the Ffestiniog, Lynton & Barnstaple and many other narrow gauge lines. The wheels were removed and sent to Baguley Engineering at Burton-on-Trent. Investigation there showed the axle journals had been welded to build them up on the bearing diameters. We took a decision to have three new axles, re-profile the tyres and flanges, fit new eccentrics and new crank pins and quarter the pin throws accurately.
In November 2007 Exmoor Transport started the restoration in North Devon in earnest under the control of Les Driver, their resident engineer, and apprentice Shaun Robins.
In November 2007 Exmoor Transport started the restoration in North Devon in earnest under the control of Les Driver, their resident engineer, and apprentice Shaun Robins.
Every component has been refurbished or replaced; major replaced items are as follows:
There are 2 new buffer beams and the rear chassis has been straightened. A new brake shaft, new main spring mounting and pins and links. A new hand brake screw and nut, new cab complete. Re-machine axle boxes and all new horn-guide castings. New piston rods, new slide bars, new slide bar bronzes, new high pressure steam pipes, new smokebox door ring and boiler strip, a new fire box, all new stays, new foundation ring and fire hole door ring and new tubes. All new boiler crinolines and cladding, new safety valves, new cylinder drain cocks, new water tank lids, new brake hangers, and blocks. New pistons, rings and glands and air brake equipment. “Gertrude” was never fitted with air brakes or an air compressor so the brake shaft has all been made new and adapted to accommodate air braking; new couplings have had to be adapted. One of the last jobs was a new ash-pan.
In spite of the seemingly endless list above, “Gertrude” truly is a restored engine faithfully replicating the original working engine with only two significant deviations – the modern air braking system and the construction of an enclosed cab.
There are 2 new buffer beams and the rear chassis has been straightened. A new brake shaft, new main spring mounting and pins and links. A new hand brake screw and nut, new cab complete. Re-machine axle boxes and all new horn-guide castings. New piston rods, new slide bars, new slide bar bronzes, new high pressure steam pipes, new smokebox door ring and boiler strip, a new fire box, all new stays, new foundation ring and fire hole door ring and new tubes. All new boiler crinolines and cladding, new safety valves, new cylinder drain cocks, new water tank lids, new brake hangers, and blocks. New pistons, rings and glands and air brake equipment. “Gertrude” was never fitted with air brakes or an air compressor so the brake shaft has all been made new and adapted to accommodate air braking; new couplings have had to be adapted. One of the last jobs was a new ash-pan.
In spite of the seemingly endless list above, “Gertrude” truly is a restored engine faithfully replicating the original working engine with only two significant deviations – the modern air braking system and the construction of an enclosed cab.
In 18th August 2009 ‘Gertrude’ received her boiler certificate, and over the August Bank Holiday weekend she visited the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway where she was reunited with sister engine (‘The) Doll’ for the first time since the pair were removed from Bilston in November 1960. Nearly Fifty years had passed since ‘Gertrude’ last worked a train, the Bilston Steelworks Rolling Mill line having been decommissioned in October 1959, and she had never worked a passenger train until the evening of Saturday 29th August when the Westmacott family were in attendance, an emotional reunion, especially as Sue Westmacott had tragically, and unexpectedly, passed away a few days earlier.
Restoring any steam locomotive is no easy task, and to achieve the fantastic standards attained with the restoration of Gertrude has only been possible with the support and or practical assistance of the following who we would like to acknowledge -
Les Driver, Andy Richards, Jim Pounds, Shaun Robins, John McGarrity, Len Howse, Darren Oggiano, Eric Leslie, Chris Poile, Bill Leadbetter, Roy Broxholme, Chris Hannaford, Robert Neighbour, Tony Brown, Mike Buse, Mike Selby, Andrew Kennedy and the Stirland Family. Thank you to everyone.
Gertrude has gone on to work most of the ten years of her first boiler certificate based at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. At the beginning of 2019, Exmoor Transport was wound up having completed it'd role in the locomotive's story. The engine is now homed at the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire. It remains in the ownership of the Westmacott family.
Restoring any steam locomotive is no easy task, and to achieve the fantastic standards attained with the restoration of Gertrude has only been possible with the support and or practical assistance of the following who we would like to acknowledge -
Les Driver, Andy Richards, Jim Pounds, Shaun Robins, John McGarrity, Len Howse, Darren Oggiano, Eric Leslie, Chris Poile, Bill Leadbetter, Roy Broxholme, Chris Hannaford, Robert Neighbour, Tony Brown, Mike Buse, Mike Selby, Andrew Kennedy and the Stirland Family. Thank you to everyone.
Gertrude has gone on to work most of the ten years of her first boiler certificate based at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. At the beginning of 2019, Exmoor Transport was wound up having completed it'd role in the locomotive's story. The engine is now homed at the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire. It remains in the ownership of the Westmacott family.