Share issue to help unique ‘Collett Goods’ steam again
South Devon Railway plans a host of improvements to set itself up for the future.
THE sole surviving GWR‘Collett Goods’ locomotive could steam again at the South Devon Railway (SDR), after agreement was reached between the 0-6-0’s owners and the heritage line.
Under the terms of the agreement with the 2251 Locomotive Fund, the South Devon Railway Ltd, a Charitable Community Benefit Society will become the custodians of No. 3205 for the next 50 years.
Following acquisition by the 2251 Locomotive Fund from BR in 1965, No. 3205 became the second locomotive to arrive at Buckfastleigh for preservation later that year. Two years later, the ‘2251’ became the first loco on the fledgling Severn Valley Railway (SVR). No. 3205 left the SVR in March 1987, initially to the West Somerset Railway before returning to Buckfastleigh to what by then had become the SDR in 1998.
During 2016 No. 3205 developed a crack in the boiler barrel, which was repaired that year, but it was withdrawn from traffic in 2017 when it found the loco needed a major boiler rebuild and a new cylinder block. Since then, it has been stored at Buckfastleigh. The renewal of key components as part of the loco’s overhaul will see it fit for many years.
Tender
One part of No. 3205 is currently operational, however – the tender is on hire to No. 2807 at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. As reported last issue, the GWR 2-8-0 has recently returned to traffic following the completion of its overhaul. The tender frames for No. 2807 are in flatpack form awaiting the team to put them back together.
While the SDR has a pot of money from the sale of Nos. 3803 and No. 4920 Dumbleton Hall which is reserved for capital projects, to help fund the comprehensive restoration of No. 3205, the SDR has announced a new share issue.
“The share issue will raise funds and we plan to use it as match funding to apply for grants,” SDR general manager Ernest Elsworth-Wilson told The RM.“We want people to invest in the long-term future of the railway.”
Infrastructure
With that in mind, other projects to fund include a new building for carriage repairs; construction of phase 2 of the running and maintenance shed; new visitor facilities at Buckfastleigh; improvements to all stations; and an upgraded museum at Buckfastleigh.
Elsworth-Wilson added: “We also want to fund schemes to reduce our railway’s environmental impact. These include solar panels and electric car charging points, and rainwater harvesting for flushing WCs. We also want to build on the work we have already carried out with local wildlife groups in terms of managing habitats.”
Visit www.southdevonrailway. co.uk/shares for details.