B17 Steam Locomotive Trust - Latest News 2019 and before

Latest News 2019 and before

2019 and before News

Grimsby Town Football Club - Home Ground Blundell Park in Cleethorpes - visit 6th August 2019

The only football club in the Football League who play all of their home games away from home!

During the 1935 - 36 season Grimsby Town were a well respected First Division team and began their FA Cup campaign in the 3^rdround of the competition on 14^thJanuary 1936 by beating Hartlepool United 4 -1. Victories followed in the fourth and fifth rounds against Port Vale (25^thJanuary) and Manchester City (15^thFebruary). For the quarter final played on Leap Year Day, Grimsby Town with ground advantage ran out 3-1 winners against Middlesbrough. Grimsby Town then played the mighty Arsenal in their semi final match on 21^stMarch at the Leeds Road ground of Huddersfield Town, to lose by the only goal 0-1. Arsenal went on to triumph 1-0 over Sheffield United at Wembley on 25^thApril to win the FA Cup. It was that these results set the scene for the names to be allocated to the first four new B17s out shopped from North Road Works, Darlington during March 1936 - to herald the first of ‘The Footballers’.

2848 Arsenal (FA Cup Winners)

2849 Sheffield United (Losing finalists)

2850 Grimsby Town (Losing semi-finalists, Winners - Quarter Final)

2851 Derby County (Losing Quarter Finalists to Fulham who were outside of the LNER area)

No. 61650 Grimsby Town was withdrawn and broken up at Doncaster in 1960. Fortunately, one of the original nameplates was presented to the football club soon afterwards, where it has been faithfully preserved and is displayed at the Blundell Park ground.

More recently, and through the interest and help from Stephen Marley, a new member who joined us this year from Grimsby, the Trust prepared a framed photo and a summary of the service history of 61650 Grimsby Town, to be presented to the football club for display next to the nameplate. Brian Hall (chairman) and Tony Brzosko (member) visited Blundell Park on 6^thAugust to meet John Fenty who is the major shareholder of the club and Stephen Marley (Director) to make the presentation. Stephen kindly conveyed us to Blundell Park from Grimsby Town station where we were introduced to John Fenty. This was followed by a ‘whistle stop’ tour of the ground hosted by John and covered every inch of the seating and facilities in each stand including players and officials changing rooms, the match day control and media commentary centres and of course the pitch itself which was in tip top condition. En route, John introduced us to each member of staff busily pursuing the many and varied activities that continue behind the scenes each day of the week in support of the club. Educational facilities provided for young people were also demonstrated and many illustrations and charts were evident on the tour to celebrate the many footballing highlights, achievements and personalities from previous seasons, which created a sense of pride and heritage for the benefit of the club, the ‘home’ supporters and visitors too. John Fenty excused himself at this point to attend an important Town Council Meeting after first being thanked for permitting and conducting this visit.

The nameplate including the half football with club colours on each side was considered to be ‘the family silver’ and took pride of place in the boardroom. The presentation was made to Stephen Marley on behalf of Grimsby Town Football Club by Brian on behalf of the Management team and all Members of the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, to eventually draw the visit to a conclusion. Grateful thanks were expressed to Stephen Marley for his personal help in arranging this very informative and interesting visit.

Special thanks are due to B17 SLT Members: Geoff Eldridge for preparing the framed photos, Peter Wright for researching the service record of 61650 and Tony Brzosko for his photo record of the visit.

Owners of 'Helmingham Hall' nameplate is announced - February 2019

The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust are pleased to announce that one of the original nameplates from Class B17 61647 HELMINGHAM HALL was recently donated to them by the original owner Berwyn Stevens who once lived in Halstead, Essex. The nameplate was purchased from British Railways Doncaster Works soon after disposal of the locomotive for the staggering sum of £7 & 10 shillings, which represented the scrap cost of 75lb of brass at that time.

'Helmingham Hall' nameplate took pride of place on the mainframe structure of 'Spirit of Sandringham' at Llangollen recently, as shown here. The face of the nameplate is to be restored to the original colour and finish.

The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust wish to acknowledge and thank Berwyn Stevens for this most kind gesture, which demonstrates his personal interest and support in the 'Spirit of Sandringham' project by donating the nameplate and entrusting its ownership to us.

Manufacture of new Spring Hooks

We are informed that Network Rail is to place an order for new spring hooks for its LNER Tenders used as snow ploughs. The A1 SLT have been invited to add to this order for their P2 and V4 Tenders, and we have also received an invitation to add to the order, as have other owners of LNER locomotives. This would result in a considerable saving to all concerned because of the number involved. The Trust have decided to add to the Order and make an appropriate saving, particularly as this does not pre-empt a decision on any one clear solution to our final Tender design.

Members preferences will be considered when assessments have been conducted and we hope that Members appreciate the opportunity to make savings, even if a little out of order.

Directors visit P2 Project at Darlington - 15th October 2018

Several directors were involved in a visit to The P2 Steam Locomotive Trust's premises at Darlington, where they had a guided tour of the new build P2 by David Elliott, chief designer of both the A1 'Tornado', and the P2 to be named 'Prince of Wales'. Progress is impressive on this magnificent locomotive; the directors were shown aspects of the design learnings that can also be applied to 'Spirit of Sandringham' - remembering that our drawings are produced by David Elliott.

Whilst at the works, a conversation was had on locomotive tyres whilst looking at a spare set of Tornados tyres; at 6'8", these are the same size as a B17's tyres!

Our thanks to David Elliott and The P2 Steam Locomotive Trust for hosting us.

Brian Hall and Richard Taylor listening to David Elliott. Photo by John Pearson.

2018 Rail Art Calendar

The January Illustration of Malcolm Root's 2018 Rail Art Calendar features ''Sandringham at Home'', a view of pioneer B17 61600 on a passenger train at Royal station Wolferton.

Other illustrations in the area which B17s operated are:- April, a pre war scene with B4 5181 approaching March station with a local passenger train from Lincoln. June, a portrait of the Great Central war memorial engine ''Valour'' at Neasden shed. October, a 1950s scene at Wrabness with a J15 performing shunting duties and finally December, a very atmospheric scene on a foggy day at Norwich with 'Claud' 62564 arriving with a local passenger train. Other views around the country feature a 'Bullied' on the turntable at Weymouth, a local train in the lake district, the Nith Valley, Sonning Cutting, the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, an A4 at Gleneagles and Duchess of Sutherland. The 2018 Rail Art Calendar is in the shops now.

Full size prints on good quality art paper of ''Sandringham at Home'' are available from The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust at £65 each + £5 postage and packing. The ideal Christmas present for the discerning Art or Railway enthusiast.