The Ffestiniog Railway has launched an appeal to raise the funds needed to overhaul Linda, one of the Ex-Penrhyn Quarry Railway ‘Ladies' based at the railway.
In just two years time, the locomotive will have been with the Ffestiniog Railway for sixty years, and the railway wants the popular locomotive back in steam for that anniversary.
The Ffestiniog Railway already has a list of work that needs to be done on Linda before she can steam again.
- Linda now has the oldest boiler in the fleet and dates back to 1936. It doesn't need a complete replacement but there will need to be quite a lot of metal.
- The chassis also needs attention and re-riveting in places.
- A good look is needed at the corroded saddle tank, it is now twenty-five years since it was last repaired but should be ok to go back into service.
- The locomotive's tender is one of the biggest areas of concern. It is likely that the sides and rear end will be kept, as well as recycling the wheelsets, but the rest needs to be replaced.
- On top of this, a general strip down and overhaul will be required.
Linda's boiler ticket expires next spring, and her last day in service is planned to be the 27th March 2021.
The estimated cost of the overhaul is around £60,000.
Donations can be made to the Ffestiniog Railway by clicking here.
Paul Lewin (Director and General Manager) writes: “We estimate that this overhaul will cost around £60,000 – that is one thousand pounds for every year Linda has worked on the FR. Donations would be extremely welcome, and can be made via the FR Society as usual. I very much hope that you will be able to help us with this appeal. Now more than ever this kind of support is very important. Helping now will not only ensure we can enjoy riding behind Linda on an important anniversary, but it will keep skilled staff working for us at a time when other income is uncertain.”
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