Thieves stall Tanfield locomotive's heritage era debut
LOCKDOWN intruders who stole £ 20,000- worth of non- ferrous fittings during a break- in at the Tanfield Railway's Sunniside headquarters on Tuesday, April 28 have jeopardised the restoration of Barclay 0- 6- 0ST No. 1015 of 1904 Horden.
Supplied new to Horden Collieries of Durham, the locomotive has never run in preservation. Its restoration began in 2012.
Tanfield Railway Trust chairman Derek Smith said: "We're absolutely devastated by this callous and targeted theft.
"Our volunteers have put thousands of hours into the restoration of Horden. Before the lockdown, it was only weeks away from hauling trains for the first time since 1972.
"The theft will put that back months and cost more than £ 20,000; money that we can ill afford at a time when we have no income:'
Northumbria Police have appealed for anyone with information about the theft of copper pipework and brass fittings to contact its ' report an incident' page at www. northumbria. police. uk quoting log 300 280420.
DC Shaun Atherton, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a targeted theft where thieves preyed on a charitable organisation during lockdown:'
The railway has launched a £ 50,000 appeal at www. gofundme. com/ f/ help- support- tanfield- railway to compensate through loss of income during the Covid- 19 pandemic closure period, and part of the money raised will go towards getting Horden's restoration back on track. As we closed for press, more than £ 11,000 has been raised.