STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TO BE PAINTED PINK AND GREEN FOR CHARITY
A steam locomotive is to be outshopped in a pink and green livery to raise funds for a children’s charity.
The striking colour scheme will be applied to Polish ‘TKh’ 0-6-0T No. 5374 when it returns to steam at the Plym Valley Railway next year, in support of Children’s Hospice South West.
It is in memory of Oliver Brown, who died at the age of 11 in CHSW’s Little Harbour hospice at St Austell on November 2 last year, following a three-year battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome
– a rare form of blood cancer that affects only four in one million children worldwide.
The ‘TKh’ is to receive the name ‘Lord Oliver Brown’ in place of its previous identity, ‘Vanguard’, with a naming ceremony proposed for November 2021 to mark the 30th anniversary of the hospice.
Marc Bellin, who owns the 1959 Chrzanow engine, has pledged to donate “every penny it earns” to the hospice, saying: “The measure of success will be how much money it can make – and how many smiles it can put on people’s faces.”
He explained: “I’d had the idea to paint it pink for breast cancer” – but the switch to supporting the hospice was the result of a conversation with Network Rail colleague Richard Gibson, who volunteers with Oliver’s father Mike on Plymouth’s lifeboat.
Mr Gibson has designed the ‘TKh’s’ new livery, incorporating the hospice’s logo, as well as suggestions from Oliver’s eightyear-old brother Benjamin.
Mike Brown said: “This is an incredible gesture by Marc. Rich has done so much to support my family and Oliver always enjoyed fun with Rich and his family. The pink livery is a classic Oliver influence, as he would set a new trend over following any standard livery! The PVR family have been so welcoming of this idea and the offer to support CHSW.
“The hospice looked after us in our final days and moments with Oliver as he passed away at Little Harbour. We really hope this raises as much funding as possible for CHSW and attracts many more people to the PVR and steam trains in general. Thank you everyone involved.”
Mr Bellin acquired the ‘Ferrum’ in November 2016 at the age of just 19, while he was studying at Exeter University (SR462). It last steamed in 2008, at its previous home of the Northampton & Lamport Railway.
The boiler has been refitted to the frames and had the tubes installed, having been overhauled by contractor Aaron Teifel.
Its completion will give the 1½-mile PVR a fleet of three operational resident steam locomotives, with Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Works No. 2248 ‘Albert’ having returned to steam in May last year to join fellow Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 705 (Works No. 2047), which is in the third year of its boiler certificate. A fourth engine – Bagnall 0-6-0ST Byfield No. 2 (Works No. 2655) – is also expected to emerge from overhaul in two years’ time.