Our resident Class 33 nicknamed ‘Sophie’ has undertaken a test run between Cheddleton and Froghall. The locomotive which was last used in November 2009 has been the subject of an extensive refurbishment.
It has required a lot of attention to its bodywork, including complete renewal of drainage channels in the engine room and renewal of ventilation grills along the cant rail. The bottom 6” of each support pillar along the body side has been renewed along with the 12” strip along the bottom edge of the body sides. The cabs has been totally stripped down and rebuilt with most of the fibreglass mouldings needing repair, and the entire floor being renewed and part of the drivers desk changed.
The single biggest job undertaken has been the complete rewiring of the locomotives control systems from end to end including a good deal of work in the cubicle. This part of the project consumed just under 5 km of cable !
There are still some finishing off jobs to be done, before the locomotive can be returned to passenger traffic, however it is still on course for a formal re launch in September this year.