TO mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the iconic Somerset and Dorset Railway smoke will be rising from the chimney of a steam locomotive for one weekend only.
The owners of steam locomotive 30075 will set the stage to make it appear that their locomotive is steaming at Shillingstone station, the headquarters of the North Dorset Railway Trust.
The locomotive has only recently arrived at the station, but it is not in working order as it requires an overhaul which includes work on its boiler and firebox.
However, it will be set up on both days to give the impression that the locomotive is steaming and it will even have an authentic crew on its footplate.
Members of the locomotive team will also be on hand and happy to answer any questions about the locomotive.
After the gap of nearly 50 years, the 30075 steam locomotive was pushed into Shillingstone station on Saturday, February 27 in preparation for this coming weekend.
Project 62, the owners of 30075, hope to have the locomotive back in full working order within the next three years and then they will start work on their second locomotive, 30076, which is also now at Shillingstone station.
Once the Somerset and Dorset event is concluded, work will commence straight away on 30075.
The much loved Somerset and Dorset line and the stations along its route, including Shillingstone, became part of the Dr Beeching cuts and were closed from March 7, 1966. The former station site was taken over by enthusiasts in 2003 and now the expanding railway project hopes one day to see a working line restored on the Shillingstone section of the former Somerset and Dorset Railway.
The event is taking place on the weekend of Saturday March 5 and Sunday, March 6.
If anyone is interested in being a part owner of a steam locomotive, shares are available in both 30075 and 30076 and details can be found on Project 62’s website at project62.supanet.com
Details of the North Dorset Railway Trust and the Shillingstone Station Project can be found at shillingstone-railway-project.org.uk
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830985
e: meghan.hindley
@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoMeg
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