61662 UPDATE (photos KL Collection)

The long-awaited steel for No 61662’s new splashers arrived at the start of June and we set to work drilling and forming them into shape. The first section of the front splasher has now been secured and the cover trial fitted. We could not resist adding an NBL worksplate (from a North British B1) to enhance the look. Manchester United’s LNER number was of course 2862 and a replica plate will be made as funds allow.

The replacement steel section for the running plate curve also arrived and we were delighted that this fitted into place with no cutting or trimming required. After the poor weather we have had to endure earlier in the year, we have been experiencing something of a heatwave during June. The area where No 61662 is located is a bit of a suntrap and on 26th June, the temperature recorded on my car dashboard reached 40 degrees C !

One big improvement this month was the removal a dead tree which has made it difficult for vehicles and equipment to access the site. Another advantage is that we can now obtain wide angle views of the loco ! Don’t forget that our Sales Stand will be at The East Anglian Railway Museum at Wakes Colne on Sunday 8th July so please go along and support Malcolm and Sean if you can.