Age of Steam T-shirts

(RetroClassic Clothing, www. retroclassicclothing.com Various sizes, £24)

SINCE launching its first range of T-shirts in January 2012, Wiltshirebased RetroClassic Clothing has grown from being run out of a spare room by founder Adam Allen to an international business shipping an ever-growing range of quality apparel around the world.

Created by lifelong motor racing enthusiasts, the range widened from fast cars and hot-rods to portray icons such as the Routemaster bus, vintage aircraft like the Lancaster and Spitfire, classic tractors, and now steam locomotives.

Each design is unique and is handprinted to order at the company's base on ethically produced 100% cotton t-shirts in a variety of sizes.

The first two steam locomotives to be featured are Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35028 Clan Line and BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80072 (pictured) – which, based at the Llangollen Railway, has been awaiting dismantling for overhaul since 2019.

Built in Brighton works in November 1953, it began its career hauling commuter trains on the London, Tilbury and Southend line. When the LTS route was electrified, it was transferred to Swansea East Dock and later Leamington Spa and Shrewsbury.

After withdrawal it was sold to Woodham Brothers and arrived at Barry scrapyard in January 1966, where it remained almost twice as long as it had run in service, being bought by chartered surveyor Ray Treadwell and his wife Elaine. Also trying to restore a pannier tank, they sought others to restore No. 80072 and so the Llangollen Standard Four Trust, a registered charity with shareholders, was formed. It was returned to steam in 2009 on the Llangollen Railway.

The locomotive now needs new tanks and a bunker in addition to the overhaul, the total estimated cost being £91,000.

Independently owned, thankfully it was not among the assets owned by Llangollen Railway plc which went into administration because of its debts. The assets were sold by auction on May 12 – the proceeds of which will allow some or all of the steaming fees still owed to the trust to be paid by the administrator.

Before the day comes that it will resteam again, No. 80072, a veritable and popular workhorse which spent the summer of 2017 on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, will be seen again all over Britain and maybe beyond our shores – by wearers of this stylish quality t-shirt.

IDEAL STEAMY SUMMER WEAR