Knotty Trust’s Robert Heath overhaul appeal needs £5000 to reach its target
THE Knotty Coach Trust’s fundraising appeal for the overhaul of its now unique Robert Heath & Sons 0-4-0ST
No. 6 needs just over £5,000 to reach its £20,000 target, which will allow work to get underway at the Foxfield Railway.
The trust purchased the 1885-built Norton & Biddulph Collieries loco in March 2020 with the eventual aim of having it run with the restored rake of North Staffordshire Railway four-wheelers.
No. 6 last ran at Foxfield in
May 2008, and although the boiler was lifted several years ago, only intermittent progress was made on its overhaul before its sale.
New tubeplate
The greatest expense is expected to be the boiler, which was built by Bagnall of Stafford in the mid-1950s. A new front tubeplate is required, while the firebox crown girders will also need replacing, necessitating the removal of the inner firebox. Fortunately a set of 1951 Bagnall drawings for sister engine No.9 were discovered in the archives at Shugborough Hall, and these are expected to prove invaluable for the boiler overhaul. Mechanically the loco is in reasonable condition, although its leaf springs will need to be renewed before it can turn a wheel again. At the time of writing in early February, the GoFundMe appeal had raised more than £14,500, putting it within touching distance of being able to start work on the project. Anyone wishing to make a donation should visit www.gofundme. com/f/robert-heath-no6-appeal Alternatively cheques made out to the ‘NSRRSRT’ can be sent to: Jon Beardmore, 9 Ouse Close, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 5ZF.