Help secure rare parts for new ‘first’ Ivatt diesel recreation initiative

THE IVATT Diesel Recreation Society has issued an appeal for £30,000 to buy unique parts for its project to recreate LMS No. 10000, Britain’s first successful main line diesel.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic began, the society launched the President’s Centenary Appeal to establish a fund to buy key components as and when they became available. So far, supporters have donated £58,000.

Engine spares, traction motors, manganese liners and bogie parts are needed to complete the rolling chassis

A statement said: “The designs are all about 70 years old, so parts are extremely scarce.

“Some of these unique spares are set to become available this summer and £30,000 is required to ensure that the society can obtain them at short notice and transport them to our base at Wirksworth.

“We urgently need this additional money to avoid missing the opportunity to obtain these, otherwise unavailable parts. We have been advised that some of these critical parts are about to become available; most are in the UK while some are located in The Netherlands.”

The chassis of Class 58 No. 58022 has been stripped and will be modified as the basis of the new No. 10000, the original having been scrapped in 1968.

➜ Donations may be made by bank transfer to Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society (sort code: 30-94-77; account: 50405860).