Local Barclay to be restored by Fife Heritage Railway
A KILMARNOCK-built 0-4-0ST, which spent its pre-preservation working life in the Kingdom of Fife, will be cosmetically restored a few miles up the coast from its former workplace at the Fife Heritage Railway.
The 1937-built Andrew Barclay (W/No. 2046) was built for the British Aluminium Company (BAC), and was given the number 3 in the fleet at its Burntisland bauxite reduction works. Here, it worked alongside two Peckett 0-4-0STs – Nos. 1376 and 1579 – both of which survive and have operated in preservation.
Regular steam operation ceased at Burntisland in 1971, but No. 3 was retained as a spare engine until donated to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society in 1989.
It was subsequently transferred to the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway (B&KR), but has never steamed there, standing out in the open ever since.
The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society, which operates the Fife Heritage Railway at Leven, had long desired to see No. 3 return to the area it once worked and, following months of negotiations with the B&KR, has secured a 10-year loan of the locomotive.
It is expected to make the move to the railway’s Kirkland Yard base in the coming weeks.
“BAC No. 3 is coming to us on a 10-year loan for cosmetic overhaul and display,” FHR director
Anthony Wiaczek told The RM.
“Further to this, in the long run we are intending to build a museum in conjunction with the regeneration of the Levenmouth area and rail link. The plan would be for No. 3 to have a prime spot due to its local history.”
A crowd-funding appeal by the FHR has so far raised more than £1,300 towards the cost of lifting and transporting the loco from Bo’ness to Leven, although more would be helpful.
Details can be found at: https:// tinyurl.com/yx5l2trp
Any excess funds will be put towards materials to begin the cosmetic restoration work.