FORMER NRM HEAD CALLS FOR CLARITY AFTER ‘T3’ GIVEAWAY
‘T3’ becomes the second main line steam locomotive to be disposed of in less than 12 months.
THE NATIONAL Railway Museum has disposed of another unique locomotive from the National Collection, gifting LSWR ‘T3’ 4-4-0 No. 563 to the Swanage Railway. A classic express passenger engine of the late Victorian era, the William Adams-designed 4-4-0 of 1893 is the second pre-Grouping locomotive to be given away by the museum in the past 11 months, following the ‘gifting’ of North Staffordshire Railway 0-6-2T No. 2 to the Foxfield Railway in April 2016 (SR459). The museum has declined to say whether there are other locomotive disposals pending, and has not addressed questions about a change in its collection/ retention policy, causing concern among enthusiasts for the future security and shape of the National Collection. The first news of the transfer of ownership of No. 563 came in a Swanage Railway press statement on March 30, in which an unnamed NRM spokesperson is quoted as saying: “We are delighted… to have found such a suitable home for this locomotive”, but offered no explanation as to why the locomotive was being discarded from the National Collection. Guidance from the Museums Association on object disposal asks member museums - including the NRM - to “ensure transparency, carry out any disposal openly, and keep the public informed of plans relating to the disposal of items through press and media.” In its Code of Ethics, it says: “Museums should adopt an open and honest approach that explains the context and potential benefit of the planned course of action. Museums are trusted institutions, and it is important that this legacy is not damaged.” Steam Railway has learned, however, that the NRM approached the Swanage Railway to take permanent custody of the ‘T3’ early last year. It emerges that the dialogue over the ‘T3’ was taking place as the NRM was preparing to hand over North Staffordshire Railway 0-6-2T No. 2 to the Foxfield Railway - a change of hands which attracted controversy, because the original announcement - again issued in the form of a press statement from the receiving railway - did not make clear that the locomotive had been ‘gifted’ by the NRM. It was only when enthusiasts asked about the duration of the ‘loan’, that the NRM revealed the NSR engine had in fact been ‘de-accessioned’ from the National Collection, and that Foxfield was the new owner. Former NRM Director Steve Davies MBE has urged the museum to make a statement in order to confirm or dispel speculation of a locomotive and rolling stock ‘clear-out’; meanwhile, on social media websites, the museum is facing intense criticism for giving away stock, instead of pursuing the established practice of long-term loans to heritage lines. Mr Davies, now head of an international railway heritage consultancy, told Steam Railway: “I’m hugely surprised that this engine, which only survived by the skin of its teeth and surely in the view of many is the most aesthetically beautiful and graceful locomotive in the collection - has been given away. “This has been quite a subject of discussion between myself and my colleagues, and have to admit I raised my eyebrows when I learned of it. The ‘T3’ is a particularly precious locomotive. “If the preservation world thinks there’s a clear-out going on, it might be wise for the NRM to make a statement as to whether this
is a limited disposal, or whether it presages a more expanded disposal programme. “I’m not privy to the financial pressures or policies under which the NRM is working, but it suggests that the NRM is running out of space. If it had to prioritise locomotives for disposal though, surely there were lesser candidates that could have gone to create space?”
What we asked, and how the NRM responded - see panel on the far right.