January 2007 Newsletter
NORTH BRITISH LOCOMOTIVE PRESERVATION GROUP
Hon. President Sir Hugh Reid
JANUARY 2007 NEWSLETTER
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Our initial objectives for 2007 are to move forward with the Dubs Tank Loco as soon as possible and to put together a project plan and costings for the repatriation of our Class 24 No. 3647. Subject to funding we intend to purchase a North British 19D 4-8-2 before Transnet’s surplus members of this class are scrapped. Beyond that we intend to cast the net wider and compile a register of surviving NBL engines overseas for possible future repatriation – volunteers would be welcome for this task.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
I’m delighted to tell you that just before Christmas we received a letter from Sir Hugh Reid congratulating us on our progress to date and wishing us well for the New Year. Sir Hugh is currently living, as he puts it, in semi-retirement in Cyprus. For newer members, our Sir Hugh Reid is the grandson of the gentleman of the same name who is widely credited with founding NBL in 1903 and was the Company’s first Managing Director. We in return would like to wish Sir Hugh every success and happiness in 2007.
NORTH BRITISH WEBSITE
A major breakthrough this month is that one of our members, Steve Knapman, is ready to launch our new website. Steve has been working hard on this recently and you can visit the site at : www.nbloco.net Please bear with us at the moment as some of the pages are still under construction but we hope the site will help to boost our membership and increase awareness of NBL’s important place in British locomotive-building history. Thanks to Steve for his efforts on this, we welcome contributions for the site and you can e.mail them to : steve_knapman [steve_knapman@rubihorn.demon.co.uk]
LOCOMOTIVE UPDATES
We were hoping that our Dubs A Class Tank would have been moved to Masons Mill Shed by now but the Christmas break has caused further delays to the schedule. We are trying to set a new date for the move with SANRASM and will keep members informed.
We are currently putting together an inventory of missing parts and fitting for our Class 24 No. 3647 and will obtain quotes to move the loco to a preservation site nearer the coast where some preliminary restoration can begin.
As previously noted, our bid to purchase a North British 19D has been lodged with Transnet and we are expecting to know if we have been successful by early March. There has been a great deal of interest shown in this project and we will be contacting our potential share purchasers and donors as soon as we have further news.
NBLPG ACCOUNTS – 2006
A breakdown of all income and outgoings to 31 st December 2006 has been finalised and will be posted out to all locomotive shareholders and donor members within the next few weeks. Suffice to say that, whist our accounts are in the black, we still urgently need cash and funding for most of our current projects. Nothing new there !
NORTH BRITISH 15F PROJECT
Spoornet announced the successful bidders on their scrap tender covering redundant steam locomotives at Bethlehem, Bloemfontein, Warrenton and Beaconsfield sheds on 17 th January 2007 and it is hoped that a positive announcement on this subject can be expected from Glasgow Transport Museum in the very near future.
COMMENTS & INFORMATION
If you would like to comment on our preservation activities or would like further information on any of our projects, please contact me by letter, phone or
e:mail. Ken Livermore
Thanks for your support and interest : Best Regards, Ken
Correspondence to : Ken Livermore, Hon. Secretary, NBL Preservation Group,
112, Haddon Drive, Woodley, Reading, Berks, RG5 4LL.
Telephone : 01189 691 147 e:mail :ken_livermore@agilent.com
