£150,000 APPEAL TO COMPLETE REPLICA BLYTH

The Southwold Railway Trust is appealing for £150,000 to complete the construction of its replica Sharp, Stewart No. 3 Blyth.

Construction of the 3ft gauge 2‑4‑0T is well under way at North Bay Railway Engineering Services in Darlington, with the boiler already complete and the frames at an advanced stage following the fitting of the axleboxes and springs. It is expected to be a ‘rolling chassis’ by mid‑February or early March, and capable of running on compressed air by the end of the summer. The locomotive should also be visually complete around the same time, with the chimney, tanks and cab in place.

SRT chairman John Bennett said: “We want full completion by the end of 2020 and will pull out as many stops as we can, but we will need to raise a substantial sum if we are to achieve that.”

£150,000 would not only complete Blyth, but also provide coaling and watering facilities, plus a water treatment plant, for when it enters service at the trust’s Steamworks headquarters. Mr Bennett said: “Coaling and water facilities will cost around £5k and we can do this quite quickly with our growing volunteer force.”

He added: “Builders are making a start on phase two of the engine shed before Christmas and this will be complete by Easter, and

80 yards of 3ft gauge track will be laid by our friends in the Army Reserves in January.”

To donate, visit www. southwoldrailway.co.uk/trustprojects/2-4-0t-no-3-blyth

Srt southwold railway sharp, stewart 2‑4‑0t no. 3 Blyth hadn’t steamed for six years when this photo was taken at Bird’s folly, near halesworth, in 1935. work to recreate the locomotive is well under way at nBres in Darlington.