01/09/2026
WD 701
Passengers travelling on the Churnet Valley Railway over the last few weeks may have noticed a slightly larger blue engine than Wimblebury, in the form of WD 701, Batt Holden Limited’s latest S160 to complete its overhaul.
Under little fanfare, we have undertaken a series of trials with the locomotive over the past few weeks, culminating in its first passenger-hauled service to Ipstones on 12 August 2026.
This follows the completion of the locomotive’s overhaul.
701 has performed well so far, but, as with any locomotive returning to traffic following a major overhaul, there are inevitably some teething issues to address. We will be monitoring the engine closely over the coming weeks and will withdraw it from service as necessary to deal with any niggling issues as/if they arise.
A considerable amount of work has been completed on 701 since the beginning of 2026, including:
• Fitting of the cab
• Final installation of the backhead fittings
• Overhaul of the steam brake
• Installation of a new whistle and linkage
• Fitting of Nathan injectors
The coming weeks will see continued running-in and testing of 701, with further work undertaken where necessary to ensure the locomotive is operating as smoothly and reliably as possible.
5197 Withdrawn for Overhaul
Meanwhile, 5197 has officially been withdrawn from service ready for its overhaul.
The fantastic effort and reliability of 5197 over recent years have been instrumental in allowing us to focus our attention on 701. Throughout its time in service, 5197 has proved itself to be a steady and dependable locomotive, firmly living up to the S160 reputation of being, in our words, “near enough bomb proof.”
Right up until its final day of operation, 5197 continued to haul seven-coach trains up the 1-in-40 gradient, demonstrating the reliability for which 5197 has become so well known.
We would not have been able to concentrate on bringing 701 back into traffic in the way we have without 5197 providing that dependable service. Its withdrawal therefore marks the beginning of another important chapter, as we turn our attention to its overhaul while continuing the running-in and development of 701.
For Batt Holden Limited, it really is a case of better late than never — 701 is finally back hauling passengers, and there is plenty more work to come. 🚂💙
Photos Copy Right: Ian Ralphs / Frank Richards
