Standard gauge steam locomotive, Stamford, is currently on loan in the exhibition building at Rocks by Rail, the Ironstone Museum near Cottesmore in Rutland.
The locomotive is one of only a hand of quarry locomotives that worked in the ironstone quarries in Rutland.
However, the owners of Stamford, the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, have agreed to sell the locomotive to the museum so it can remain in Rutland.
The museum is now raising the funds to purchase the locomotive and start the long project for its repair, re-assembly and conservation as a museum exhibit.
David Atkinson Chair of RbR Trustees said: “We are grateful to the Bluebell Railway for firstly securing the locomotive for preservation when Pilton ironstone quarry closed in 1969, secondly for allowing it to come on loan to the museum and thirdly for now offering the loco for sale to the museum so that it can remain on public display in its home county”.
Mr Christopher Hunford, Chairman of the Bluebell Railway PLC Board, commented: “ As this small quarry loco did not fit in with our core objectives as a working heritage railway in southern England we are pleased to offer it to the volunteer run museum to safeguard its future in an appropriate location. Any donations made to the museum’s Stamford Loco Appeal will thus benefit two railway heritage organisations and enable the Bluebell Railway to continue to invest in vital future railway infrastructure projects to safeguard its continued operation.”
If you would like to make a donation, for more information, please email andysam@stayfree.co.uk
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Aw, man! I would have loved to see it working!