Better late than never but we thought we should acknowledge the arrival of 3278 to Churnet Valley Railway considering CVR have just posted its first steamed. Arriving on the 27th November 2020 it received a once over at Froghall before making the slow journey to Cheddleton.
This was swiftly followed with the Staffordshire Moorlands being put into a Level 3 lockdown over the festive period.
19th February 2021 saw the first work parties taking place on the boiler as the monel stays were removed to be replaced with flexible stays. Following the successful adaptation of an alternative staying patters for fixed / flexi stays on 5197 and 6046 which broadly follows the German practice. Similar stays/ staying pattern can be found on the world famous A1 pacific 60163 “Tornado”. All stays, sockets and caps were machined in house for this process. At this time we replaced all the mud hole sockets and doors on the boiler barrel and fire box.
31st March 2021 saw the boiler removed from its frames. The frames made their way into the shed while the boiler remained outside for continued boiler work.