The mission of The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust is to build and operate an LNER Class B17 4-6-0 express passenger steam locomotive, to be known as 61673 Spirit of Sandringham, for mainline and heritage railway use.
The project is managed by both a Strategy and an Engineering plan. The rate of progress depends on incoming funds and variables such as raw material costs and supplier availability, which ultimately govern the pace of achievement.
Project Aims
The Trust is constructing 61673 'Spirit of Sandringham' in full compliance with Railway Group Standards, ensuring it can operate on both the mainline network and heritage railways across the UK. We are introducing careful design improvements to the original technical baseline to enhance performance, reliability, and ease of maintenance.
Beyond engineering, the project aims to capture an era of world-class British manufacturing and national pride. We are dedicated to providing educational and skills training opportunities, supporting apprenticeships in engineering, science, and manufacturing.
The engine will be capable of operating with either the GE tender or the larger LNER Group Standard tender normally used by B17s—examples of which are already owned by the Trust. Appropriate certification is being progressively obtained in conjunction with the relevant Railway Authorities.