As a change to the usual Rail User Group topics, here is some news from the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust whose objective is build and operate a B17 Steam Locomotive on both heritage and national railways. They are looking for individuals who have the necessary skills and interests to help them realise their objectives, and as a charitable trust have additional responsibilities to ensure the training of young people in engineering and the linking of historical and contemporary skills.
For details please see b17steamloco.com or download this document B17-Locomotive-Trust.pdf
These express passenger locomotives were built specifically from 1928 through to 1935 to a Sir Nigel Gresley design for the requirements of the East Anglian region. These were a key GER, and later LNER, class locomotive that were used on all the routes from Kings Lynn, Norwich, Cambridge and Southend into London Liverpool Street on the most prestigious trains of their day. One was even used to haul the funeral train of King George V1 from the Sandringham Estate( after which they are named) back to London. They were also significantly used across the Fenlands to Peterborough and from there and Cambridge into London Kings Cross.
The trust has committed the funds to purchase the main frames which initiates the build of the locomotive and these are currently being manufactured.
