Construction Blog

A resume: Work on 61673 started when the frames were cut in 2015 and we were based in Llangollen. In 2020, we moved to the premises of CTL Seal in Sheffield and are currently involved in the manufacture of the Rolling Chassis. Although nothing was left of the locomotives, we were fortunate to acquire 2 tenders – a GER pattern one and an LNER pattern one. These were originally stored at Dereham on the MNR but were moved to Sheffield in August 2020.

Whilst we were always intent on building our loco (Spirit of Sandringham) for mainline use, another Group also started on making a replica of another member of the B17 Class. This was the 61662 Manchester United Project and their ‘mock up’ was based at the Mizens Railway site near Woking. Earlier this year, this group decided to abandon the Project and dismantled the life size model they had created. Behind the model of the locomotive was a real LNER Pattern tender – one of the type pulled by B17s. The Group have generously donated this Tender to the Trust and it has just been transported to our engineering base in Sheffield on 30th November and 1st December – see the photos below.

Now in Sheffield, it is stored alongside our other 2 tenders. We are currently working on Grant Applications which will enable us to strip the existing tenders, identify what can be re-used and hopefully start on the build for a refurbished tender. This work will be carried out by apprentices under supervision and so will form an integral part of their Training Programme.

30th November 2021. The LNER Tender loaded up and ready to go north.

Working in the late afternoon, Stuart Smith worked to get the tender loaded onto his trailer. This photo shows him doing the final checks before leaving for the journey north to our base in Sheffield.

The next day, 1st December 2021, the load has arrived at our base at CTL Seal in Sheffield.

The rails on the trailer were connected to the panel of track we had laid, we were ready to unload the tender.

Finally in place, the tender donated by the 61662 Manchester United project as part of the project being wound up, the lineup of the three tenders shows the scope we now have for creating a tender capable of running on the mainline.

The '61662' tender number is 4166, built at Vulcan Foundry and was paired with B1 61176.

The other LNER designed tender (middle) started life behind a J39 64961 tender no 7163, marked on axle boxes, Withdrawn at Lincoln in 1959 and recovered to Cambridge, it became an oil and sludge carrier at Cambridge before moving to the NNR.

Our original GER tender has 2802 stamped on the running gear; this was the first B17 in service.

All photos in this series by Tony Brzosko