Rail enthusiasts fundraising to restore Fife colliery workhorse

Railway enthusiasts have launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring a steam locomotive home to Fife.

The Lathalmond-based Shed47 Railway Restoration Group hopes to bring National Coal Board No29 back and return it to working order.

Half of the £2,500 fundraising target has already been raised and the group is urging others to get behind the campaign by donating at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/no29.

Group secretary Grant Robertson said: “Shed47 Railway Restoration Group have launched an exciting project with the aim of bringing steam back to west Fife.”

The locomotive was a reliable workhorse for a number of Fife coal mines.

It was delivered new to the Fife Coal Company at the Mary Pit in Lochore and also worked at Lindsay Colliery in Kelty, Cowdenbeath Central Workshops, Bogside Mine and Frances Colliery in Dysart.

Mr Robertson said: “All donations will be used directly to support this project, and are very gratefully received, as are any offers of assistance.”

Shed47 previously carried out cosmetic restoration and repainting on another No29, which sits proudly in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park.

The group will hold its first open day of the year this month.

“Visitors are welcome to come and see our existing railway and ride on the diesel train on our open days this year, which are run in conjunction with the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum on whose site we operate, our first of the 2017 season being on May 21,” Mr Robertson said.

“This year also brings a new attraction, our new narrow gauge railway.”