The return of Percy

[The Idle Fellow]

I expect everyone on here knows about the sad accident to Stuart Hines' Fowell no. 108, 'Percy', last March. In an argument with an 'I didn't see it' driver, one front wheel was hit so hard that the perch bracket was smashed and a number of other parts bent or broken - happily the boiler survived. The invalid was taken to Statfold Engineering and earlier this week a rejuvenated Percy arrived back at the haulier's yard in Suffolk. (Stuart heaps great praise on Nick Noon and his team at Statfold.) Today Percy completed the journey home under his own steam.

The grin that says, 'I've got my engine back'.


Making Percy 'road legal'.


Shunting in the haulier's yard.


Steam test, Jonathan Wheeler checks that the new tubes aren't leaking.


Stuart's regular crew, Norman Last, oils the rear wheel bearings.


On the open road in High Suffolk.


Storm Ciara has gone, but it's still windy.


Passing Pakenham watermill.


Nearly home.


This is where the accident happened, a straight, clear road in a 30 mph area.


Home yard! Note the new perch bracket casting.


Don't know if that's just an expression of contentment, or if Stuart is thinking about cleaning, lagging, cladding and repainting.


Thanks for a memorable day and a great start to my steaming year.
Bill.

[shines]

Thank you Bill for recording a special day.
Cheers

Stuart

[FB]

I saw it come trundling past our workshop at about lunchtime. It was a very pleasant surprise and an absolute delight to see! It's great to have it back in the region, and congrats to all those who worked on it. I look forward to seeing it out and about this year.
FB.

[Brian Hutchings]

I'm glad this got sorted so quickly,I have a soft spot for Fowells as one was the first model I built to my own design,
I'm not in favour of names that they never carried in their working lives though.
Brian