This section concentrates on the technical information for the B17s from initial design of the B17/1s to the final version of the B17/6s through to operational performance and incidents.
Assets Loco History Specifications Summary of Classes Service Life Allocations (1955)
Representative Locomotive Features Representative Cab layout Photo Gallery
Each and every gift made to The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust is greatly appreciated and will help us to continue developing the locomotive and carry out construction activities that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. The prime source of funding is based upon an ever increasing number of contributors making affordable gifts/donations on a regular basis and includes free membership for the duration of the payments. By choosing to become a Member, and making a regular donation by Standing Order, you will enable us to forward plan. These regular donations mean a consistent, predictable income, so we can budget and be more efficient. It is also a great way in which you can spread your donations over a period of time.
In return for becoming a member you will be entitled to certain benefits. This includes a free quarterly newsletter and attendance the two public meetings a year. One of these public meetings is the AGM and as a member you will have voting rights.
As a registered charity The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust can claim income tax relief on donations from UK tax payers, meaning that your donation could go even further at no additional cost to you. For every £1 a UK taxpayer donates, 25p in reclaimed tax can be added. Therefore a gift of £10 is worth £12.50 to the Trust when an eligible donor says "yes" to gift aid.

If you would like to support the B17 Trust by making a single or regular donations please use the donate button or alternatively please complete and return this donation form.
Thank you for your support.
Gifts and Legacies
Writing a Will is one of the most important decisions you will make and we appreciate that it is very personal. However, should you wish to leave a legacy to the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, please be assured that any gift, irrespective of size, is vitally important to the Trust and it will be used wisely to ensure the long term future of the project. This is our commitment to you.
As the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust is a registered charity, legacy gifts and donations will also be free of inheritance tax.
What sort of legacy could I leave?
A residual Legacy is a percentage of all what remains after your expenses and other legacies have been paid. A residual legacy is the best way to benefit the Trust because it is unlikely to be affected by inflation. Using this method, you can be sure that your gift is always within your means, whatever your financial situation in later life. Alternatively, you may wish to consider a pecuniary legacy - a gift of a specific sum of money - or a specific legacy, such as a house, share value, railway artefacts, books or photographs.
You may wish to relate any of these to funding a specific component or task. However, choosing to make an unrestricted gift will enable the Trust to direct funding to areas of greatest need, which will change as the project progresses.
Income sources generated by donations and legacies are vitally important to our future financial well- being. These will permit us to continue with locomotive development and construction activities that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.
In Memoriam
Making a donation to the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust in memory of someone special is a wonderful way to ensure that their memory lives on, whilst supporting interests that were important to them. At your request, the Trust can set up a ‘Living Memory Fund’ in your loved one’s name, which friends and family can make contributions to. A great comfort at a time of loss, a living memory fund celebrates a life, whilst helping to ensure the future of the project.
Donations
A gift of whatever size makes a difference. If you are eligible to “GIFT AID” your donation enables the Trust to claim back your contribution of income tax already paid by you at the basic rate from HMRC.
FIND OUT MORE
We would be happy to talk with you to explain how your valuable support can help the objectives of the Trust. You can contact us by entering your personal contact details on the form below and sending them to the address given or telephone the Trust (Brian Hall) on 07527 670436 and we will contact you.
Whether you wish to become a regular subscriber or make a donation please see the relevant forms below, print off and fill in manually and follow the included instructitions.
For details on how to become a regular contributor and to print off form please click here.
The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust (B17 SLT) was established as an organisation with charitable status in 2011 and is managed by a board of trustees/directors.
Current Trustees / Directors
Brian Hall
Chairman & Engineering Lead
Brian retired in 2011 after a 47-year career in production engineering, production management, and works management roles, predominantly in the defence industry based in Hertfordshire. His previous experience in steam preservation (late 1970s) was associated with 92 SQUADRON (BoBLPS). Brian was an original subscriber and founder member of The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust upon its formation in April 2011 and was appointed Chairman in 2012.
Henry Mullens FCA
Treasurer
Henry is a practising chartered accountant and partner in a business specialising in farming and agricultural accountancy and tax management, covering the eastern part of the country. Henry joined The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust as a member and was appointed Treasurer in January 2012. He is responsible for the group's financial reporting and also that of B17 Enterprises Ltd.
Nick Illingworth
Publicity, Marketing & Area Lead (Yorks/NE)
A Middle East specialist who joined the railways in 1990 to specialise in IT, Nick works as a sales lead and IT architect for a global software vendor, tasked with delivering large, complex implementation projects for major banks. Nick’s passion for LNER steam stems from watching Gresley Pacifics and other steam locomotives at work on the East Coast Main Line in the 1960s. He joined the Board in 2023.
John Pearson
IT, Membership, Website & Area Groups
John developed a practical skill set in ICT from a career involved with computer programming, systems management, and software. Later, whilst working for a multinational computing company, he moved into Software Consultancy and Sales Account Management. Retiring in 2015, he joined the Trust in 2017 through his shared interest in garden railways and is an active B17 volunteer. John also assists with Engineering aspects and is a board members of B17 Enterprises Ltd.
Alan Warren
Editor of 'The Spirit' & Publicity
Alan qualified as a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1976. He spent six years working for British Rail (E.R. York) before returning to private practice in Cambridge to specialise in NHS capital investment programmes. In his spare time, Alan became a glider pilot and authored a number of railway books and articles whilst also editing house journals for the North Norfolk and Mid Norfolk Railways. Alan emigrated to Canada in 2012 but remains key to our grant applications.
Peter Wright
Project Historian
Peter retired in 2011 after 37 years as sole proprietor of the news agency at March Railway Station. With a lifelong interest in railways, Peter organises a local group raising funds in aid of railway preservation and researching railway history. He joined the Trust in 2012 and was appointed Project Historian in 2015.
Alan Lusby
Engineering & Quality Control
Alan joined the Engineering Committee in 2023 and has accepted a post on the board. He brings valuable experience from working on the new-build A1 Tornado as part of its Quality Control team.
Other Key People
John Peat
B17 Enterprises Ltd. & Archives
John retired after a 46-year career in engineering and project management roles associated with the defence industry. He became a member in 2012, providing support services to the Sandringham project, and was instrumental in setting up the management tools for the Trust. John remains through 'B17 Enterprises' meetings, advising on product design and helping in thecataloguing of archive photographs.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Read about our Technical Strategy, Finance, and Future Operations.
Read Project OverviewComments, questions and/or contributions from interested parties are always welcome.
We enjoy talking about our project!
The Trust can also be contacted as follows:-
-
In writing to
The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust
c/o 171 Clifton Road
Shefford, Bedsfordshire
SG17 5AG
-
By telephoning Brian Hall on 07527 670436
- In person when attending events (see our Events listing for upcoming events near you!)
- Email us directly on:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This section details additional resources that may be found useful in support of the site content.
LOCOMOTIVES
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TITLE |
URL |
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A1 Steam Locomotive Trust : “Tornado” |
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A4 Locomotive Society : “Sir Nigel Gresley” |
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A3 (National Railway Museum) : “Flying Scotsman “ |
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V2 (National Railway Museum) : “Green Arrow” |
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A2 (North Eastern Loco Preservation Group) : “ Blue Peter” |
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B1 (Thompson B1 Loco Society) |
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LMS “Patriot” 45551 |
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LNWR George the Fifth |
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LNER “P2” |
http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=699&Itemid=248 |
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BR “Clan” 72010 |
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BR 3MT 82045 |
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New Build Steam |
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Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust |
BOOKS
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Title |
Publisher / Author |
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Yeadon’s Register of LNER Locomotive : Volume 5 : Gresley B17 and Thompson B2 Classes |
Irwell Pess |
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Yeadon's Register of LNER Locomotives Appendix 1- Named Engines - Their Application, Derivation & Changes Parts 2 & 3 |
Book Law Publications |
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The Power of the B17s & B2s |
OPC |
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The LNER 4-6-0 Classes |
Ian Allan |
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Locomotives of the LNER Part 2B Tender Engines Class B1 to B19 |
RCTS |
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Nameplates of the Big Four p122-126 |
OPC / F. Burridge |
RELATED WEBSITES
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Content |
URL |
|
UK Heritage Railways |
RAILWAY SOCIETIES
|
Title |
URL |
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LNER Society |
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Great Central Railway Society |
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The Gresley Society |
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Great Eastern Railway Society |

