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.














Saturday 27 May 2017

27th May 2017

Riveting in progress
Benny heating the rivets.


Having placed the rivet in its hole, Benny withdraws,  Tom holds the dolly on the back, whilst Nathan uses the gun to form the rivet head.


Nearly there, Nathan finishes the head of the rivet, Benny is already heating the next rivet.


The front crossmember riveted into its place behind the front bumper.


Another view looking forward.


Running plate support angles.


The finished left hand front buffer beam supports.


The right hand side with one difficult rivet to go.


The front apron plate is now in position, along with the vacuum pipe bracket.


Another view slightly angled


Next the front running board has been bolted into place ready for riveting.


On the right hand side the running plate supports can be seen.


Away from the riveting, these are the front bogie lubricating pipe connections.  The smaller right hand threaded part is a new piece which has been welded to the original to form a repair.


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Tuesday 16 May 2017

16th May 2017. A little progress

There has been some progress with the riveting of the front end.  This is despite the other engines constantly demanding attention.
The heating of the rivets has changed from the oven, to using an oxy-acetylene lance.  This method is proving to be quicker in that when a rivet is in the oven, when taken out, it takes a while to heat the oven back up again.


The countersunk rivets that hold the angle iron to the top of the buffer beam.  This angle in turn hold the running plate.


 Looking at the rear of the buffer beam, the angle that was mentioned previously can be seen at the top.  The strengthening flitch plates on this side have also been riveted into place.


The buffer beam with the addition of the vacuum pipe dummy coupling.


And later with the addition of the front buffers themselves.


In between the frames, the front bogie mounting stretcher has been riveted into place.


The rear stretcher under this front section is also now permanently riveted into its place.


The rear of the centre section of the buffer beam.  This shows the left hand flitch plate and centre draw hook strengthener permanently in place.


On the outside of the frames, above where the cylinders will fit, is the running plate support angle which has also been riveted into place.


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