CLUB LAUNCHED TO BUILD £2.6m ‘B17’ BY 2028
‘B17’ No. 61673 Spirit of Sandringham could steam for the centenary of the class in 2028 – if its new ‘Constructors Club’ can raise £2.6 million.
With the LNER 4-6-0’s frames completed at Llangollen Railway Engineering in June, the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust aims to build its ‘rolling chassis’ and boiler by 2027 – a year before the 100th anniversary of the first examples being delivered from North British in December 1928.
The trust has drawn up a three-phase construction plan, Phase 1 being to complete design work for the chassis by December 2018, for which £155,000 is still required.
Phase 2 covers the construction of the chassis, and the design of the motion and boiler, to be undertaken between 2019 and 2022 at a cost of £1m. In Phase 3, between 2023 and 2027, the boiler and firebox will be manufactured, a tender restored (the group owns LNER Group Standard and GER-design tender chassis, but is yet to decide which to restore first) and final assembly and testing undertaken, accounting for £1,505,000 and making the total cost £2.66m.
In return for donating £616.73 (as a lump sum or in monthly instalments for up to three years), supporters will receive a replica worksplate; a photograph of their chosen ‘B17’; a reserved seat on one of No. 61673’s first runs; their name on a ‘roll of honour’; a ‘Constructors Club’ badge and certificate; and regular news updates.
For more information, write to B17 SLT c/o 171 Clifton Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG17 5AG, call 07527 670436, email b17slt@googlegroups.com or visit www.b17steamloco.com