The Duke appeals for support coach funding
WITH BR Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester on course to return to main line action later this year, the need to have an operational support coach to accompany the powerful locomotive is becoming ever more pressing.
The BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust had planned for the work to upgrade its Mk.2 BFK (Brake First Corridor) coach No. W17041 to main line standard to be carried out in-house by its volunteer working parties at Tyseley. However, this has not been possible due to Covid-19.
“The support coach ideally needs to be available when the Duke returns to traffic so that it may take on any charter work which might come our way,”said trust chairman Trevor Tuckley.
“It is estimated that to bring our coach up to mainline standard will cost £40k. Therefore, we are relaunching the Support Coach Appeal. The work will be carried out by a third party contractor – we're currently in the process of obtaining quotes.”
Trevor added: “To remind everyone, the Support Coach Appeal was to sponsor each foot of its 64ft length for £500. This will raise £32k, but with Gift Aid could reach the £40k needed. So far, we have 18ft sponsored, which is just over one quarter.
“Well-wishers do not have to sponsor their foot length in one payment. If preferred, 10 monthly payments of £50 is more than acceptable.”
As for the locomotive itself, the crank axle is now due to return to Tyseley from South Devon Railway Engineering by the end of May. At Tyseley Locomotive Works, all boiler tubes have now been fitted. Machining is in progress on the piston heads and piston rods, along with the new front and rear cylinder covers.
Response
Progress on the locomotive has been boosted thanks to the generosity of well-wishers. Following the addition of Gift Aid, the Boiler Tube Appeal has raised close to £20k – and for the first time, the trust's annual income has topped £90,000 including Gift Aid. A further 22 members have recently joined the trust too.
“We can now look forward to 2022 with increasing optimism and start thinking about the Duke’s return to the mainline,” enthused Trevor.
“While we have an agreement with Vintage Trains, our locomotive will also be available for hire during the first quarter of 2022 to other tour operators – plus heritage lines which are main line connected.
“This is something we can all feel proud about and look forward to see the Duke working in the condition Riddles intended when his prototype had been fine tuned. It will have taken almost 50 years of dedication to complete the‘impossible dream'so what a celebration that will be seeing our unique locomotive once again gracing the UK's railways!”
➜ More details of how you can help No. 71000 can be found at www. theduke.uk.com – or by post from: The Duke Aurora House, Deltic Avenue, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8LW.