Bo'ness Class 25 will run next year, if. • •
THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society ( SRPSh) as called on supports to make one final push to get Class 25 No. 25235 running again.
Following a successful appeal for the money to fit replacement tyres to the wheelsets, a huge amount has been achieved over the past three years with the wheelset work completed, bogie frames and attachments cleaned back to bare metal, repaired and repainted, traction motors professionally overhauled, axleboxes and axlebox guides repaired and new bogie springs purchased.
The bogies have been rebuilt and are back beneath the locomotive, while the engine has also been completely stripped and rebuilt, the radiator group has also been stripped out and new settling tanks made. A start has now been made to treat all the body corrosion.
The SRPS has set a target date of 2021 for completion but need more funds to finish the radiator overhaul and pay for the new steel for the corrosion repairs. The radiator elements were sent for overhaul last year and nearly all failed, and the cost to repair these alone is £ 14,000. Furthermore, several other items are needed to finish the job such as batteries, overhauled buffers and finally a new coat of paint.
➔ If you would like to contribute to these final stages of restorations, end a chequemade payablet o SRPSC lass2 5 Appeal, d o AlastairG eorge4, Baberton Mains Avenue, E dinburgh E, H143 EQ or donate through the society's uk.virginmoneygiving.copmage.