Appeal is launched to help finish a new tender for WSR’s Odney Manor
THE West Somerset Railway Association has launched an appeal to raise funds for the completion of a new tender for GWR 4-6-0 No. 7828 Odney Manor.
Tender No. T2206 is approaching the end of its useful life, and the tank of spare ex-Barry tender No. T2061 was previously scrapped as beyond repair, with the chassis rebuilt.
In 2021, a group of volunteers commenced work on building a new tank to the original Churchward riveted design, using original Swindon drawings.
The funds for this work has been raised thanks to donations, selling scrap, and hiring out equipment, and it is expected to be complete this summer. To ensure the work is preserved and gives as long a life as possible, it will require shot blasting to remove any trace of mill scale, followed by application of a specialist two-coat epoxy resin – something that could add up to 30 years of useful life.
Requiring a specialist external company, it has been costed at £15,000 plus VAT, with the association agreeing to cover half the cost from its own reserves. It is therefore seeking donations to assist with the remaining £7500.
➜ For further details, including both on and offline methods of donating, see https://wsra.org.uk/a-tenderfor-odney-manor or telephone 01823 433856.