A further test steaming of 1918 built Andrew Barclay 'Bahan' Class' 0-6-0 T 'AJAX' (Works No.1605, IWSR No.W38) took place on 15the December 2004. In addition to numerous light engine movements the test included hauling an empty stock train between Havenstreet and Smallbrook Junction.
The locomotive has been restored to working order by the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, led by Chief Mechanical Engineer Len Pullinger. During the rebuild, the locomotive has been completely stripped down to its frames and a vast amount of repair and refurbishment undertaken to all parts of the engine A great deal of the original superstructure of the locomotive including the side tanks, cab and bunker have been replaced with new material, fabricated in the Havenstreet Mechanical Engineering Workshop. The boiler itself was repaired under contract at the Tenby, South Wales, works of Bartlett Engineering in 2002. The work carried out included the fitting of a new steel inner firebox, manufactured for the locomotive some years ago, fitting of a new front tube plate, fitting of a new smokebox, re-tubing of the boiler and having patches inserted in the lower half of the outer firebox. It is anticipated that 'Ajax' will enter revenue earining service on the IWSR sometime during 2005.

All pictures by Pete Snashall.