A locomotive group in the Netherlands has donated traction motors to the Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society.

The society has developed links with Werkgroep 1501 in the Netherlands, which has donated traction motors from former Class EM2 No. 27003, which had been operating for many years as NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) No. 1501, and is now in the Dutch national railway collection in Utrecht.

Because of Brexit, their transport to the UK was made more difficult, but those problems have now been overcome and the motors have now arrived at the project’s base.

London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Nos. 10000 and 10001 were the forerunners of many current British mainline diesel locomotives.

Designed by H. G. Ivatt and built in 1947/48 at Derby Works, many of their parts and concepts are still used on the railway network today.

The original No. 10000 was scrapped in 1968 before historically important diesel locomotives became part of the preservation movement.

The two Ivatt diesel-electric locomotives and the Class EM2s had many similar components, and the acquisition of the traction motors is hugely beneficial to the project.

Although 1501 was withdrawn from mainline service in the Netherlands in the 1980s, it continued to be used on special trains until the 2000s, and its traction motors are still in excellent condition.

The society will now assess the nine traction motors in its ownership, and aims to test one of them in the coming months. Six other motors were obtained in 2019 as part of EM2 bogies, but require refurbishment.

The motor assessed as being in the least-good condition has been fully dismantled and used to develop ways in which the other five can be dismantled and overhauled.

While work is continuing with the motors, other projects include 3D modelling to ensure compliance with Network Rail requirements, constructing the cabs, and further development of a rolling chassis.
Further information about the project is on the society’s website www.LMS10000.com.

Donor parts to recreate 10000 include a power unit and alternator donated by GB Railfreight from Class 56 No. 56104, and a motor initially built for an Australian locomotive, but the order was cancelled before delivery was made, and it was used as a backup generator at a military base.