NRM agrees Sir Lamiel overhaul... with 2023 target
THE National Railway Museum has ‘green lit’ the overhaul of its sole-surviving Southern Railway ‘King Arthur’ No. 30777 Sir Lamiel.
The museum has also renewed the 4-6-0’s custodianship agreement with the Loughborough-based 5305 Locomotive Association (5305LA).
The overhaul will be carried out at the Great Central Railway (GCR) by the 5305LA engineering team, led by chief engineer Tom Tighe, and completed to full main line standards.
Work is due to begin later this year and scheduled for completion in 2023.
Once finished, a second, five-year loan agreement between the NRM and 5305LA will be negotiated.
This will see Sir Lamiel continue to be based at the GCR, where it has been resident since 1996, but enable it to return to the main line as well as appear at other heritage railways across the country. 5305LA’s initial mechanical assessments of the ‘King Arthur’ have confirmed the loco’s suitability for overhaul.
The bottom end is in good order following a previous overhaul in 2012 – the unknown factor is the boiler, but this will be stripped and assessed early on in the overhaul process.
Subject to any unforeseen delays, the locomotive will be back on the main line in around three years’time, enabling it to celebrate its own 100th anniversary in 2025. The loco will be turned out in its BR identity as No. 30777 in lined-out passenger green with early crests on the tender.
It is hoped Sir Lamiel will be able to work a series of commemorative railtours over former Southern Region metals during the centenary year.
The 5305LA has launched the Knights of the Round Table (KotRT) appeal to help finance the £80,000 overhaul, which is seeking to recruit 74 individuals to each donate £1,000 to the initial £74,000 appeal.
Donations can be made in a lump sum, in four quarterly payments of £250, 10 installments of £100, or 36 instalments of £27.78.
A number of incentives have been created for KotRT donors including:
◆ Personalised certificate and membership card
◆ Name engraved on a Round Table and displayed prominently (subject to a suitable display location being agreed)
◆ Footplate access, when stationary, to No. 30777’s cab when practically possible at the GCR.
◆ Free seats on the inaugural train at the GCR.
◆ 25% off Standard Class seats on the first mainline railtour.
◆ Life membership to the 5305 Locomotive Association.
■ Full details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/y4nuudby 5305LA chairman Alan BerckMay said: “We’re really proud to continue our association with Sir Lamiel and look forward to working with colleagues at the NRM and the Great Central Railway as we undertake the overhaul.”