D9531 has been out of traffic for well over a decade while undergoing a thorough overhaul, unfortunately this overhaul has been beset with numerous delays and setbacks that have drawn it out way beyond its original planned completion date. Despite becoming a little forgotten over the last couple of years, much of the major work has already been done and it is hoped that 2010 will see the loco finally return to traffic thanks to a combined effort of the ELR Diesel Group, BHG & C15PS members teaming up to get the remaining tasks finished off.

Ironically it was a lack of brakes (rigging and pins to be precise) that saw the project grind to a halt, however this is now well in hand (for the full story see the relaunch report). To fit the brake rigging and complete the remaining under-frame work the loco needs to be over a pit so this means a return to Baron Street works. Starting as we mean to continue, Saturday the 2nd January the loco was shunted out of Castlecroft shed by newly repainted Class 47 D1501, before it was coupled to Class 03 shunter 2062 to be tripped down through Bury Bolton St Station, past Buckley Wells coach works and on to the Baron Street shed yard.

D9531 being shunted out of Castlecroft, 2nd Jan 2010

Down at Baron Street, Class 37, 37418 had been used to shunt out all the dead steam locos from No6 road of the shed and after much shuffling around D9531 was put into position over the pit and all the other locos shunted back in behind it, this job took most of the day and filled the Baron St shed up with smoke as the 37 & 03 were running inside the shed for some time while the job was being done. Thankfully all went to plan and now D9531 is in position for the work to begin.

Job done! D9531 at rest over the pit in No6 road of Baron Street works