After the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) recently agreed to sell former GWR 0-6-0 PT 6412 to the SDR, the above photos shew the current condition of the part dismantled boiler at the WSRA's Williton loco works, clearly illustrating the extent of the major works that are required to return this engine to steam.

The South Devon Railway's successful bid for 6412 is in line with the SDR Trust's policy to acquire former GWR locomotives more suited to a quiet branch line but also capable of handling the larger trains on the railway.

No. 6412 is one of the 64xx class of locomotive purchased directly from British Railways by the Dart Valley Railway in 1962, so it never went to near a scrap yard!

A popular engine, it pulled the SDR's re-opening train in April 1969 but was sold in 1976 by the Dart Valley to the WSRA. It also hauled the WSR's opening train the same year, but it will be effectively returning back home again to Devon fairly soon.