Restoration

Bringing a steam engine back to working order is long, skilled work. This page shows where 80064’s restoration stands and what is still to do.

The restoration is well under way. The aim is to return 80064 to service on the West Somerset Railway in the summer of 2028, after a short running-in period on the East Somerset Railway.

Her boiler is being repaired by Riley and Son in Lancashire, while the chassis is being overhauled by the volunteer team at the East Somerset Railway’s workshops at Cranmore.

Progress at a glance

Part of the engine	What it does	Status
Boiler	Makes the steam. It must pass an insurance inspection and pressure tests before the engine can run.	In progress at Riley and Son: a new front tube plate and a new front section of the boiler barrel are being made.
Smokebox	Houses the chimney and blastpipe, which draw the fire.	In progress: new liner plates and fittings riveted in, and new steam pipe glands made.
Frames	The steel backbone that everything else is fixed to.	In progress at Cranmore: cleaned, primed and now being painted.
Wheelsets and axleboxes	Carry the engine’s weight and turn the power into motion.	In progress: axle journals being skimmed and polished at Riley and Son, and new axlebox crowns being made.
Bogie and pony truck	The smaller wheels that guide the engine into curves.	In progress: bogie stripped and its wheels removed for cleaning.
Cylinders, rods and valve gear	Turn steam pressure into movement and control speed and direction.	In progress: coupling and connecting rod bearings removed, to be remetalled or renewed.
Side tanks and bunker	Carry the water and coal.	In progress: cleaned by water blasting.
Cab	Where the crew drive and fire the engine.	To confirm
Brakes, pipework and fittings	Stop the train safely and carry steam, water and air around the engine.	To confirm
Painting and lining	The final coat of British Railways lined black.	To confirm

Filled in from the restoration posts up to 25 October 2026. Please check it, fill in the rows marked ‘To confirm’, and update the date under the table whenever you change it.

How a restoration works

1. Assessment and dismantling. The engine is stripped down and every part is examined and recorded.
2. Boiler work. Worn plates, tubes and stays are repaired or replaced. This is usually the largest single cost.
3. Frames and wheels. Frames are checked and repaired; wheels are re-profiled and axleboxes rebuilt.
4. Cylinders, motion and brakes. The moving parts are refurbished to fine tolerances.
5. Reassembly. The engine is rebuilt, piece by piece.
6. Testing. The boiler is tested under water and then steam pressure, followed by trial runs.
7. Painting. Finally, the livery and lining go on, and the engine returns to service.

Latest updates

Read every restoration update

Can you help with skills?

If you have engineering, machining, painting or project experience and would like to help, please get in touch.

Confirm whether volunteers are being sought for 80064, and who they should contact.