About the Trust


Work on the overhaul of 5025 began at the beginning of 2012. This was thanks to grants or promises of support from the Strathspey Railway Company, the Strathspey Railway Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund the Strathspey Railway Association and the significant amount which had already been raised from our supporters though appeals.

Major progress has been made on the locomotive and tender frames, axleboxes, motion, dragboxes and valve gear at Aviemore and on the major rebuild of the boiler, reprofiling of the tyres of the locomotive and tender wheels and construction of a new tender tank at Riley Engineering of Bury. Work has also included the casting and machining of a pair of new cylinders

The WEC Watkinson Trust originally hoped to return 5025 to service in 2015, however owing to the amount of work needed, we now hope that the engine will be ready towards the end of the 2019 season. ( see edit below)

We are still on track for 2019 to be the year in which the oldest and best example of a L.M.S. Black Five steams again. Due to a very tight budget the original intention was to return 5025 to traffic by carrying out the minimum necessary work. However, she is an iconic locomotive and quite early on the sensible decision was taken to restore her to “as new” condition. This has resulted in considerable extra work and expense and has left the Watkinson Trust desperate for funds.

Edit, we were heavily delayed waiting for the boiler, this has put the completion date back to around summer 2020.

Further edit, owing to covid lockdown, this has been further delayed, completion date is now summer 2021.

The original budget of £354,050 has been spent wisely and with care. However, additional boiler work has cost a further £39,345, new cylinders and frame repairs £33,350, and other work such as a new cab, injectors and super heaters upwards of £22,500.

Although most of the work now being carried out is labour intensive, certain costly goods and services are essential to finishing the job and it is only with your help that we can make it happen.

We still need to complete the tender tank and the under frame, produce boiler cladding, purchase copper pipe and various fixings and fastenings and pay for transport, crane hire and specialist machining.

The Watkinson Trust would like to thank you for any generous donation you are able to make towards a successful conclusion.

Please use the “Donate” facility below to support this worthwhile project through Paypal.














Monday, 24 August 2015

24th August 2015

The newly constructed tender body has arrived at Aviemore, perhaps the decision not to have it painted has backfired as its very rusty and will take some work to correct this.
It still requires some additions such as the coal tunnel / locker and beading around the top edge of the tank.



Work has centred recently around the construction of the running plate.

This shows the rear left hand section where the cab fits.


A slightly closer view of the same.


The front right hand corner with the newly constructed steps.


The centre section below the smokebox.


The rear drag box in place with new ends to the running plate.


Another view of the drag box showing a new cross member in place in front of it.


The front left hand corner.


Alan and John studying a component, a rare picture as when the camera comes out, everybody scatters.


Alan is responsible for the creation of our white metalling section.  Below we see the mould which he has made to white metal a motion bearing.  The bearing on the right is placed over the mould and sealed with Luting compound, the molten metal is then poured in between the two.


More machining of plate work.


The tender chassis, back from the tender tank manufacturers.  The tank has been built directly onto the chassis to ensure its fit. The new additions being the tank fixing plates sticking out at the top.


The cab has been trial fitted onto the recently made plate work.


Two more views of the cab in place



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2 comments:

  1. superfrothy1 September 2015 at 20:30

    Am I correct in assuming its now looking like 2016 for re-entry into service?

    ReplyDelete
  2. foxontour6 September 2015 at 21:20

    The original Lottery deadline was this November, clearly this isn't going to happen now. I would think that it will be another twelve months at least.

    ReplyDelete

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