Railway workers on track to build engine

A labour of love by two Severn Valley Railway workers to build one of the first steam engines of its type for 50 years is now on track.

The metal base of the new Riddles class three tank engine number 82045, which holds the boiler and wheels, has been worked on for the last few weeks at The Boro Foundry in Lye. Workers have drilled the steel plates ready for painting and for the next stage of construction of the engine which will cost in the region of £1.25 million in total to build.

The two men behind the project are Chris Proudfoot and Tony Massau who work on the Severn Valley Railway. Tony is an engine driver and Chris is a fireman. The project to build the first engine of this class since the 1950s will be carried out in most part at the Bridgnorth Station of the Severn Valley Railway.

The project started in the late 1990s under South Devon Railway fireman John Besley, who came up with the idea and worked hard to get the new locomotive off the ground. He had managed to acquire two sets of buffers and a chimney.

Mr Proudfoot, who lives in Cheshire, said: "Tony and I took over the project in 2003.

"We are making good progress with the engine, and the main frames are about to be delivered back to Bridgnorth from Boro Foundry at Lye, where they have been drilled. The steel frames are almost 12 metres long and 28 mm thick, and each plate weighs about two and a half tons.

"Estimated cost of the new loco will be about £1,250,000. The most expensive item is the boiler and firebox, and we would love to hear from anyone who would help sponsor the building of this item. This will be constructed in the UK to traditional design."

The 82045 project now has over 80 members, all of whom contribute financially to it. Approximately £40,000 had been raised so far.

The locomotive is of a type that used to work on the Severn Valley Railway in British Railways days from 1952 until the early 1960s.

For the technically-minded, it is a Riddles Standard Class 3 2-6-2 tank engine, which was designed mainly for branch-line passenger duties.

Anyone willing to sponsor the project should contact Mr Proudfoot on 01928 787255.