SIDELINES

Trojan returning to steam this year

OVERHAUL of the Great Western Society's diminutive Avonside 0-4-0ST No. 1340 Trojan has restarted at the works of Loughborough-based Locomotive Maintenance Services following abreak caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.

David Wright's team is currently focused on fitting the 308 stays required for the new inner firebox, which when fitted will each require caulking and riveting.

In spite ofthe enforced shutdown the Didcot Railway Centre-based loco is still expected to return to steam later this year.

Trojan is actually the oldest locomotive in Didcot's operational fleet, having been built in 1897 (W/No. 1386) for Messrs Dunn & Shute of NewportTown Dock.

It was later bought by the Alexandra Docks Railway in 1903 and was transferred to the GWR's books when the docks system was absorbed as part of the 1923 Grouping.

In 1932 the GWR sold the loco to Netherseal Colliery at Burton-upon-Trent, which in turn sold it on to Alders of Tamworth in 1947.

It arrived at Didcot in 1968, but was not fully restored until 2002. It last steamed in 2011.

Vandals cause damage to Mid-Norfolk stock

THE Mid-Norfolk Railway suffered aserious vandal attack at Dereham over the weekend of May 1-4.

Extensive damage was inflicted to a number of vehicles, including a recently restored Mkl brake coach and aDMU.

Norfolk Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, or holds CCTV footage from the area at the time.

Contact PC Sophie Webster at Dereham Police Station on 101, quoting crime reference number 36/29074/20.

GC reunification appeal reaches £ 150k

THE Great Central Railway's ambition to create an 18-mile railway linking Leicester with south Nottinghamshire is edging close to fruition as its current fundraising appeal reached £150,000.

In early March, the Friends of the Great Central Main

Line launched a £3million appeal to complete Phase

3 of the project to reunite the northern and southern sections of the GCR.

The project will involve the construction of two new bridges and the reinstatement of 550 yards of the original formation lost following the closure of the line in the 1960s.

For more information on how to donate visit: www. gcra ilway.co.u k/u nify