Heritage Shunters Trust launches restoration appeal for PWM650

THE HERITAGE Shunters Trust (HST) at Rowsley South on Peak Rail has launched an appeal to assist with the restoration to working order of Ruston & Hornsby diesel shunting locomotive PWM650, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in January 2023.

Withdrawn from traffic almost 35 years ago, the locomotive has suffered extensive corrosion, but the HST is now focussing its efforts to restore the shunter and has launched a sponsor a component initiative, where supporters can fund the purchase of replacement components that will be fitted as part of its restoration.

Items that can be sponsored range from a batch of 10 nuts, bolts and washers (which are then converted to give the appearance of domed rivets) for £15, through to engine room doors costing £200 each. These are just a couple of examples of components that can be sponsored, and full details of other items available can be obtained by contacting the HST.

HST spokesman John Wade told Railways Illustrated that the trust was working to complete the cosmetic transformation of the locomotive in time for its 70th anniversary next year, although mechanical restoration would also be carried out to bring it back into service. Mr Wade explained that the trust is hoping the sponsor a component initiative will help accelerate the restoration of the vintage locomotive.

The HST would also welcome new volunteers interested in joining up to assist in the restoration and maintenance of its extensive shunter collection.

PWM650 was built by Lincolnshire company Ruston & Hornsby to a standard 0-6-0 industrial locomotive design, but was equipped with vacuum braking for working on British Railways (BR). Introduced into BR traffic in January 1953, it was the first of five locomotives bought for hauling track renewal trains around the Great Western Region, with PWM being an abbreviation of Permanent Way Machine.

PWM650 was withdrawn from Swindon in April 1987 and was bought by Lincoln City Council (LCC) for possible public display. It subsequently moved to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, along with D3167 that was also owned by LCC, in 1994. The HST bought PWM650 from the council in 2016.

Of the five locomotives built for BR, three are preserved, with PWM651 based on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway and PWM650 and PWM654 both in the care of the HST. Anyone wishing to support the RPWM650 appeal is encouraged to send a cheque, made payable to The South Yorkshire Railway Co Ltd, to: Mrs J Allen, 18 Philip Garth, Wakefield WF1 2LS, or email heritageshunterstrust.ja@gmail.com for further information.

A profile on the Heritage Shunters Trust will appear in a future issue of Railways Illustrated.

Gordon Edgar PWM650 has just received a full overhaul and repaint into BR blue in the workshop at Gloucester Horton Road depot on July 28, 1979. Inside the workshop is 08826, while 25216 stands alongside. The locomotive is now owned by the Heritage Shunters Trust and restoration work on it is being carried out at its Rowsley South base.