❖ Sir Lamiel to steam in 2025
Reversal of fortunes as NRM puts ‘King Arthur’ back into 5305LA care ahead of centenary.
Southern Railway express 4-6-0 Sir Lamiel is to run on the main line again in time to mark its centenary in 2025.
5305 Locomotive Association’s custodianship of the ‘King Arthur’ has been renewed by its owner, the National Railway Museum, after a hiatus of more than a year, in an initial three-year deal that will keep the locomotive based at the Great Central Railway for the foreseeable future.
Following the disappointment of relinquishing oversight of the Maunsell ‘N15’ in 2019, 5305LA chairman Alan Berck-May told Steam Railway: “There were some misunderstandings and we’ve worked hard to resolve those.”
The museum had previously cited “lack of certainty” over the engine’s restoration base and funding, which have now been solved. “There are no underlying issues and we are building a fantastic relationship with the GCR and NRM,” he added.
The group, which had previously restored and run Sir Lamiel for almost four decades, is launching an £80,000 appeal to overhaul the boiler in a Loughborough workshop project, to be led by its longstanding chief engineer Tom Tighe, who has volunteered on No. 30777 since 1978 (SR500).
Mr Berck-May explained that the relatively modest anticipated funding target is reflective of the bottom end being in sound condition (following major work in 2012) and the reliance on volunteer labour, rather than contractors.
“We’ve a reasonable idea of the mechanics and now we just need to understand what the boiler is like,” the 2019-appointed chairman added. “We’ve set ourselves a reasonable timescale of two to three years to complete the work.” Dismantling of the engine will start “as soon as possible”.
“We’re all really excited about getting on with the work,” he said.
Nevertheless, the group says that it is taking a cautious approach and will reconsider the project if found to be “prohibitively expensive” upon stripping the boiler.
The intention is that Sir Lamiel is recertified for main line running in order to mark its 100th anniversary of construction at North British, Glasgow, by hauling railtours on home Southern Region metals.
Mr Berck-May said that restrictions that prevented the ‘Arthur’ from running on certain routes during its previous main line spell will be dealt with later. “We’ll talk to Network Rail about gauging when we’re ready to go out,” he said.
The ‘Scotch Arthur’ will spend the initial post-overhaul period running at the GCR, having resided in Leicestershire since 1996, when 5305LA, under its previous Hull Locomotive Preservation Group banner, relocated from Dairycoates shed.
A return to British Railways lined passenger green for the first time since 2012 has been agreed with the museum, but with the small ‘cycling lion’ crest on the tender sides for the first time since the 1950s. Sir Lamiel retired in July 2016 wearing Bulleid malachite green and future re-liveries, such as original olive green or wartime black, have not been ruled out.
As well as seeking donations for Sir Lamiel’s overhaul, 5305LA is also appealing for volunteer labour to assist the overhaul and subsequent main line operation. Visit www.sirlamiel.org.uk
●● The association hopes that it can gain a boiler certificate extension for its flagship ‘Black Five’
No. 45305 ‘Alderman A. E. Draper’, which is due to expire next month.
Once it is withdrawn, either this year or next, it will be “put to one side” until Sir Lamiel is completed.
The group is also providing volunteer labour for the GCR’s overhaul of ‘Britannia’ No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell; another locomotive that was in the 5305LA custodianship until it was withdrawn on December 31 2018.