NORTH BRITISH LOCOMOTIVE PRESERVATION GROUP
HON. PRESIDENT SIR
HUGH REID
MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER
Hello All,
Easter came
and went early this year and now the snow has gone (!) we can try to move
forward with some of our projects. Much interest has been shown in reconstructing
lost North British locomotives and the fund to relocate our Class 24 to Masons
Mill has started well. 15F 3007 starred in a Channel 5 TV programme on 18th
March providing valuable publicity and Steam in Action have kindly sent details
of the rescue of an NBL industrial.
PHOENIX FEASIBILITY
STUDY
Following on from the recent vote, we are
examining the feasibility of working with various groups to try to fill some of
the gaps in North British UK Locomotive history. At the present time this
involves producing outline costings and seeking the availability of the
necessary parts and drawings etc. There is much to be done but hopefully we
will be able to make some further
announcements in the next couple of months. The evocative photos of LNER
B17 4-6-0 No. 61645 and GNR K2 2-6-0 No. 61790 below give you some idea of what
could be recreated if sufficient funding can be secured.
61600 ‘Sandringham’ was NBL 23803 / 1928 & 61764 ‘Loch Arkaig’ was NBL 21986 / 1918
Photo : Derek Penney March 1959 Photo : T.B. Owen June
1957
CLASS 24 MOVEMENT
UPDATE
I’m very pleased to say that we received around 25 % of the funds
needed to move No. 3647 to Masons Mill in the first three weeks of the Appeal.
We need to keep this good momentum going so if you would like to buy further
Shares in the loco or can make a short term loan we would be delighted to hear
from you. Please complete the form at the back of this Newsletter. With the
price of scrap going up all the time in South Africa, No. 3647 is already worth
25% more than we paid for her in 2006 so no-one will lose money even if the
scheme were to fail. We need to ensure this does not happen though and get the
loco safely on her way back to the UK.
(2)
TURKISH 8F PROJECT
We are now in touch with both the Churchill 8F Group at Toddington and the Scottish RPS at Bo’ness regarding this project. Developments from the Turkish end are expected to take a little while but we will keep you posted with further news asap. The photo below showing North British 8F No. 8233 at Bewdley illustrates what may be achieved.
HISTORIC NORTH BRITISH INDUSTRIAL SAVED
The Sandstone Heritage Trust, Reefsteamers and Friends of the Rail, Pretoria, have combined forces to rescue a rare 2-6-2 Tank Loco that was built by North British in Glasgow for South Africa’s Simmer & Jack Gold Mines in 1948. The locomotive concerned, Hyde Park Works Number 26242, was based on an original Springburn design for ICI and entered service with Simmer & Jack at Germiston as their No. 5.
Mining operations at Simmer & Jack ended in 1969 and, although technically ‘preserved’, the remaining rolling stock started to deteriorate. Three historic locomotives were scrapped in 1987 and, with the museum site overgrown and future looking bleak for No. 5, the Steam in Action combine decided to step in. The loco will now be cosmetically restored and assessed before a decision is made on it’s longer term preservation.
Also included in the deal is an American-built, H.K. Porter 2-6-2 tank engine and several wooden bodied wagons. Further details can be found on the SIA website : www.steam-in-action.com Many thanks to Wilfred Mole for this news item. The illustrations below show the official NBL catalogue photo of the ICI locomotive (which was works number 24218) and of Simmer & Jack No. 5 as recently rescued for preservation.
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MEMBERS SALES AND WANTS
Jim Mitchell, who Project Managed the repatriation of 15F 3007, has produced a superb original painting of the last days of North British 25NC 4-8-4 No. 3539 at Warrenton shed.
Jim has named the painting "Glasgow Lion" and it is in Acrylics (like oils) on canvas and in a heavy dark wood frame... good for posting. The size is approximately 23" x 19” in the frame.
Jim is looking for bids over £450 and all funds raised over and above his costs
for carrying out the painting and framing will be donated to the Class 24
Movement Appeal.
Jim can be reached by e:mail at : jims.mitchell@virgin.net
or on Telephone Number : 07703 012 175
Nathan Berelowitz, from Friends of the Rail, Pretoria has three
British Worksplates for sale plus several other items of Railwayana.
The
worksplates are illustrated below and offers should be made to Nathan by e:mail
at : trainman@friendsoftherail.co.za
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MEMBERSHIP & INFORMATION
If
you would like to comment on our preservation activities or would like further
information on any of our projects, please contact me or our
Webmaster Steve
Knapman by letter, phone or e:mail.
Photos and articles for the website should be sent to
Steve Knapman : knapman@rubihorn.demon.co.uk
New
Members and Shareholders are always welcome and funds are urgently needed for
all our projects.
Please join us and help to preserve North British locomotives
from around the World. Our Website
Address is : www.nbloco.net
Remember,
there is no annual Membership Fee, just a one-off joining fee of £10 which will
give you regular news updates and the option to purchase ownership shares in
any of our locomotives if required.
Please Address Correspondence to : Ken Livermore, Hon. Secretary, NBL Preservation
Group, 4 Porchfield Close, Earley, Reading, Berks, RG6 5YZ.
Telephone : 01189 864 706 e:mail : ken.livermore@btinternet.com
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NORTH BRITISH LOCOMOTIVE PRESERVATION GROUP
HON. PRESIDENT SIR HUGH
REID
MEMBERSHIP / SHARE PURCHASE FORM
NAME :
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ADDRESS :
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TELEPHONE NUMBER :
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E:MAIL ADDRESS :
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ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (IF REQUIRED) : £10
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DUBS ‘A’ No. 196 LOCO SHARES @ £5 EACH : £
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CLASS 24 No. 3647 LOCO SHARES @ £5 EACH : £
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INTEREST FREE LOAN TO EITHER PROJECT : £
TOTAL ENCLOSED : £
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ALL SHARE PURCHASES, LOANS &
SUBSCRIPTIONS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED. PLEASE
FORWARD TO :
THE HON. SECRETARY, NBL
PRESERVATION GROUP, 4 PORCHFIELD CLOSE, EARLEY,
READING, BERKS, RG6 5YZ. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT