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N7 0-6-0T - 69621
69621 is owned by the
East Anglian Railway Museum and is on long term loan to NNR.
History
The N7 - The Third Part of the Steam Dream?-by John
Bicknell-cont
In 1976 the engine, still at Chappel, was repainted in GER
blue and adopted the identity of No. 999. This work was
mainly superficial and five years later a decision was
made to undertake restoration to a main line standard. 999
was stripped down to its basic components and the wheels,
together with the axle boxes, sent to BREL Swindon for
refurbishment, All the remaining work was undertaken by
the volunteers at the Chappel workshops. Those of you who
have been involved in the restoration of the B12 and J15
will be well aware of the effort and endless lists of jobs
involved in bringing a sixty year old loco back to
mainline standard.
The restoration work reached fever-pitch during 1989 and
69621 made a triumphant return to steam at the
Shenfield-Southend Victoria Centenary celebrations which
were held that August. It was a close run thing, with the
low loader losing a wheel on the way to the show at
Southend. However on its first outing 69621 performed
well: a credit to the small and dedicated band of
volunteers at Chappel, some of whom still bear the scars
today.
Regular steam operation on the Sudbury - Marks Tey branch
was always the ultimate ambition of those at the East
Anglian Railway Museum, to which Chappel had by then
evolved. After considerable organisation, cutting of red
tape and enormous piles of paperwork 69621 did operate on
the branch for two weekends. This was hailed as a great
success, which it was, but such a limited operation could
never be financially viable. As it was only a three-coach
train the income was insufficient to cover the increasing
demands on the purse. And whilst steaming up and down the
Chappel yard was great fun it didn't cover the funds spent
on the restoration still less generate sufficient to cover
the maintenance and eventual future contingencies. So
69621 was forced onto the streets to make her fortune,
complete with her own red light! A visit to Swanage in
1990 was followed by a spell on the East Lancs. a year
later. A nostalgic and strange visit to Stratford also
took place in 1991 for the works closure ceremony. ‘Steam
on the Met' and the Severn Valley took up 1992, followed
by 1993 on the Nene Valley. In between, 69621 took centre
stage at Open days at Cambridge and Colchester. But all
good things come to an end, and have to be paid for!
1995 was maintenance year and the axle boxes and motion
work were overhauled prior to the first visit to the North
Norfolk Railway. In 1996 there was a considerable
disappointment when minor boiler problems denied the N7
her last opportunity for main line running. She was
scheduled, along with 70000 'Britannia', to operate
between Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds at EUR150. 1997 found
her again on the NNR but now in LNER livery as 7999.
The ever more demanding specification for mainline running
was achieved in 1998 at Chappel when the N7 was slated for
the ‘Sandcastle' trains to Clacton and Felixstowe. But, in
spite of local authority sponsorship, huge guarantees were
demanded to underwrite the project and sadly these could
not be met. So the last period of the ten year boiler
certificate was taken up by Swanage for the 1999 season
where 69621 performed well right up to the end of her
certification. Now we are delighted that it has been
agreed that the next boiler certification will be carried
out at the NNR in exchange for an extended period of use.
In 1997 Dr. Fred Youell gave the N7 to the EARM. It is a
privilege to be entrusted with this unique and splendid
steam loco and we at the EARM treat this responsibility
with the respect it deserves. Fred took a great interest
in the wanderings of the N7 and rode on the footplate
whenever he could. Fred, who sadly passed away in December
1998, was a one railway man - the GER. I am positive that
he would applaud the aim of this alliance to see three
‘Swedey' locos together.
This article first appeared in Joint Line, the Midland and
Great Northern Joint Railway Society's award winning
quarterly journal, which all members of the Society
receive.
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