J21 gets new tender frame plates: but needs £ 50K before it can steam
ASTHECOVID- 19 restrictions ease, the restoration ofnow- uniqueNERJ21 0- 6- 0 No. 65033has quickly pickedupthe pace, withtwomajor milestones achieved; the arrivalofnewtender frameplates arrived at LocomotiveMaintenanceServices Ltd ( LMS) in Loughboroughandthe ordering of all the copper sheeting neededfor the newinner firebox.
The chairman of the owning LocomotiveConservation & Learning Trust ( LCLT), TobyWatkins, said: “Thanks to the generous support of the National LotteryHeritage Fund, Arts Council and Ken Hoole Trust, we have started the restoration with gusto, but without the final £ 50,000 in place there is the risk of work grinding to a halt if we don’t keep up the momentum.”
The 1889- built J21, originally NER No. 876, arrived at the LMS works in July 2019. Since then it has been completely stripped down, revealing the true state of the locomotive and the extra fundingneeded.
Progress
authenticity of a copper one swayed the decision.
With the funding largely in place for the locomotive’s first steaming in decades, a final £ 50,000 needs to be found if the restoration is to happen.
Support
Toby said:“Wehaveagreat range of supporter schemes that are tailored for a range of peopleand purses. People like to backawinner and there is no doubt thatwith all the moneywe’ve raised thus far thatweare definitely that! However, the need foranewtender tank and frames is over andabove the original estimate and soweneedtofind that last littlebit to deliveraworking J21.
“Wewere going to launch our big funding push in April and get out and about at all the shows, but that clearly hasn’t happened thanks to the pandemic. Once the virus struck, we stoodback to allow the various railways to put in appeals for their very survival, but now it’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and get that last 5%.” ➜ To support the J21’ srestoration the Trusthavelaunched the 876 Cluband the 1889 Club. Details canbe foundon theirwebsitewww. lclt. org. uk