34058 Sir Frederick Pile is in the process of being transferred from the Mid Hants Railway to Southern Locomotives Ltd, with a plan for a cooperative restoration of the loco.
If you'd like to support this restoration please contact Simon Troy at 01474 833263 or at southernlocos@btinternet.com
34058 Sir Frederick Pile
The long road to restoration
 |
Mike Vout |
34058 was withdrawn at Eastleigh on 15th October 1964, and moved to Woodhams scrap yard in Barry where it rested among the mass of steam locos. It was purchased by Mr Mike Vout, with a view to restoration. It moved to the Avon Valley Railway. Mr Vout devoted himself to acquiring or making many of the parts necessary to rebuild the loco, but the frames, axle boxes and wheels and boiler were not restored.
 |
34058 in Woodham's Scrap Yard. At one point the loco was planned to be part of the abortive Bournemouth Steam centre. |
Sadly Mr Vout died in March 2015 at the age of 76 and the loco was donated to the Mid-Hants Railway. Parts of this engine were transported from the Avon Valley Railway near Bristol, including part of the boiler and wheel sets, with the remainder delivered by low loader in July 2011.
 |
The Sellindge team have focused on the frame and wheels up, working on Sir Frederick Pile, Sidmouth and Norman. Many of the team have worked with our locos
for up to 40 years, and they're still hard at it! |
An active group worked to raise support for the restoration, however in 2022 the MHR approached SLL to pool resources that could lead to completion of the task.
The first step was to move the loco to SLL's base at Sellindge where ground up work could start on the loco's frames. The boiler was removed and sent to Tyseley, to be overhauled alongside the boiler for Sidmouth, which was previously on Sir Keith Park.
 |
The boiler was removed from the frames, which could then be overhauled from the rail up. The boiler moved to Tyseley where it has been de-rusted and
given a coat of paint. We await the review by the boiler inspector, and how much work is needed since the loco last ran in the 60's. |