The Spa Valley Railway has announced that they have purchased LMS Jinty No.47493 to help bolster their fleet.
The railway has bought the locomotive from the present owner, Barry Buckfield, who has owned the former Barry scrapyard locomotive since 1972.
47493 first arrived at the Spa Valley for an overhaul in 2000, entering service in 2004, and proved to be the perfect asset for the railway, hauling typical service trains of 4 coaches.
The loco was withdrawn from traffic in 2014, and is currently undergoing its ten year overhaul.
An appeal to raise up to £200,000 has now been launched by the railway to cover the purchase of the loco and to complete its overhaul.
The locomotive's current overhaul is continuing, and it is hoped that subject to the additional funding required and the boiler repairs, 47493 could return to traffic in 3-4 years.
This announcement comes as the decision has been made to send the boiler to the North Norfolk Railway for an overhaul, this is expected to take around 2 years to complete.
The railway has become heavily reliant on hired steam in the last 5 years, but the purchase of 47493 together with Hunslet “Newstead” making the railway it's home for overhaul should see a turn-around in the fortunes of the home fleet in the next 5 years.
Appeal details can be requested by contacting “Jinty Appeal” c/o Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Nevill Terrace, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY or Emailing jinty47493@spavalleyrailway.co.uk.
What did the officials say?
Spa Valley Railway Trustee Matt Dives said
“This is a great opportunity to purchase a locomotive which has a very good pedigree for hauling passenger trains. Throughout its previous boiler certificate, it clearly demonstrated its ability to haul any train the railway required with ease. I am very happy Mr Buckfield has recognised how well we have looked after the engine over the last 19 years and thank him for giving us this great opportunity to secure 47493 for the members and volunteers of the Spa Valley.
“The railway has become dependent on hired in locomotives recently, but I hope this is the first step towards securing the future of steam on the Spa Valley. The team at Tunbridge Wells are doing a fantastic job and I hope this is reflected in this announcement”
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