GCR agrees ‘Cromwell’ loan
NRM confirms that Loughborough is almost certain to overhaul the celebrity Riddles ‘Britannia’.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF SEEING IT BACK IN STEAM ANDREW MCLEAN, NRM
The Great Central Railway has been named custodian of National Railway Museum ‘Britannia’ Oliver Cromwell.
The standard bearer for the end of British Rail steam in 1968 is already dismantled in readiness for an expected final go-ahead from the NRM to conduct a full overhaul.
An initial two-year overhaul loan agreement has been reached between the NRM and the Leicestershire railway which, the museum says, “paves the way” for its return to working order for the first time since its previous boiler certificate expired on December 31 2018.
The NRM added: “Great Central Railway will submit a detailed overhaul plan for assessment shortly, and the intention is to deliver the boiler to Tyseley [Locomotive Works] with the remaining work to take place on site.”
‘Cromwell’s’ boiler was lifted from the frames, and wheels removed from the frames, during the week commencing July 1.
In answer to Steam Railway seeking clarification of how the dismantling had been overseen before for the loan was signed, the NRM said: “Prior to signing the new agreement, and while discussions continued, we had an understanding with Great Central Railway that they would continue to look after the locomotive and that it would remain in Loughborough.
“We were comfortable with this as a sensible interim arrangement,
given its long and successful history of operating the locomotive and its close relationship with [previous custodians] the 5305 Locomotive Association.
“Permission was given to access the locomotive prior to the official start of a new overhaul agreement to determine the scale of work required, and a representative from the National Railway Museum visited the site and inspected work in progress.”
It added: “In the very unlikely event of any unforeseen difficulties in reaching a mutually agreed overhaul plan, then all work carried out so far could be reversed.”
The new agreement began on July 12 and ends on December 31 2021, by when the ‘Pacific’ could be running again – and a fresh contract for the locomotive’s operation, based at the GCR, is expected to be a formality.
Asked whether the GCR had been given firm assurance that its anticipated investment in the project would be rewarded with a subsequent spell of operation at the Leicestershire line, York said it “is committed fully to entering into operational loan agreements with Great Central Railway following the successful completion of their overhaul as per the overhaul loan agreements.”
However, it added: “No details of the operational loan agreement have yet been discussed”.
Nevertheless, the museum has also reaffirmed its determination to see the engine return to Network Rail metals, but this has yet to be contractually agreed. It said: “We are satisfied that the operational loan agreement will, in due course, cover the main line running arrangements.”
Managing director of the Great Central Railway Michael Gough spoke of his joy at the announcement. He said: “We are very proud that 70013 will be staying at the Great Central and look forward to the day when it will, once again, grace our metals. The GCR has a tremendous pedigree of locomotive restoration and maintenance, including Oliver Cromwell, and we are delighted that the NRM has recognised this in its selection of the locomotive’s home for the next few years.”
Head curator and assistant director of the NRM Andrew McLean said that he was “excited about the prospect of seeing it back in steam”.
‘Cromwell’ was restored to working order in 2008 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the end of steam and worked a tribute to the ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ over the Settle-Carlisle line that August. The ‘Brit’ first arrived at Loughborough in 2004 in a partnership between the GCR, Steam Railway, the NRM, LSLG and the then custodian, 5305LA.
Although the NRM turned down a separate bid to overhaul No. 70013 by the latter organisation in December, the NRM said in July that “the 5305 Locomotive Association will be heavily involved in the planned overhaul”.