Work starts on separating 53808 from the tender at Ropley

Photos have been supplied by Roger O’Neil showing the process of separating the tender from the engine at Ropley which began last week and following which, the tender would enter Ropley Works.

Please help top-up the funds for 53808 to enable all the work – including the water tank and re-tyring the driving wheels – to progress without delays. Click on the banner above.

Original loco number markings

An interesting observation from Roger during this work has been the original locomotive numbers stamped into the motion.

The original S&D number 88 can be seen, along with 9678, 13808 and finally 53808; the latter often formed by stamping a ‘5’ over the ‘1’ in 13808.