‘No Agreement’ for 44767, says North Norfolk

Suggestions that Stephenson link-motion ‘Black Five’ No. 44767 is to be overhauled for use on the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) have been refuted. The ‘5MT’ arrived at the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust’s West Shed, at the Midland Railway Butterley, for a contract bottom end overhaul in October 2014 - but work was halted over 12 months ago as the cost rose to an estimated £300,000. Ian Storey, the co-owner of the locomotive, told Steam Railway last month that he had received an offer of a £100,000 loan from the ‘Poppy Line’ that, together with a £200,000 loan from a private individual, would mean its overhaul can recommence. However, the NNR says that, in fact, these discussions took place in 2015 and never reached the stage of a signed contract.