With 30241 and 30511 all 'chimney into the shed'
35018 , " East India Line " had the distinction of being the first " Merchant Navy " to be rebuilt , emerging following a three month rebuild in February of 1956 in a form radically changed from its previous design .
The revolutionary and untried original design of the class , with its chain driven valve gear , operating between the frames and running within a sealed oil bath , was a source of constant trouble , and the class were known for their maintenance difficulties , together with high coal consumption.
Matters came to a head in May of 1953 when 35020 , " Bibby Line " suffered a broken main axle and subsequent checks on other members of the class revealed serious flaws in the axles of virtually half those examined so the decision was then taken to implement a major rebuild of the whole class.