For those that don’t know the idea to get such a feature in a magazine goes back to the first Board meetings that our Hon President attended which must be early 2011. The editor of Steam Railway, Gary Boyd-Hope has been keen to write such an article but for various reasons his visit to the restoration site got postponed or delayed and it only took place on 31st March this year.

76084 has featured in small ways in the last 2 issues of Steam Railway being part of an article already mentioned in our blogs on Barry locos yet to steam (Issue 400) and then full page on the inside back cover of Issue 401.   This all leads up nicely to the feature article in Issue 402.

If you’ve read this far you are really interested in 76084. There will be something else about 76084 contained within the pages of Issue 402 and we are pleased that Steam Railway will be the first with this breaking news.

Order your copy of Issue 402 NOW.

New single ends for 76084

Scott Forrest of Forrest Precision Engineering has been busy producing some of those expensive parts mentioned elsewhere in recent posts.

And they really look the part as our images attached show.

Double forked ends for 76084′s motion

Don’t ask me what they are for – I have only a vague idea – but they do look impressive and I know that Dave Husband is justly proud of them.

The photographs are courtesy of Scott who is also proud of what his workshop can produce.

To run on the main line requires quality engineering to withstand the riguors of continual running at speed. These parts will be taking considerable forces to turn the driving wheels and need to be top quality.

Well done to all concerned and lets have more of the same.

Britannia Class 70013 Oliver Cromwell alongside 76084 at Hepscott

The Tynesider rail tour of 10 March 2012 passed the Hepscott restoration facility of 76084. The crew knew of this and drew 76084 out of her Restoration Shed so she could be fully appreciated by the enthusiasts on the charter.

70013, part of the National Collection, took her passengers to Morpeth before returning light engine to be watered then returned her passengers to York for Scunthorpe from where the charter had originated.

Our image looks like two pictures stuck together but it was taken straddling the fence.

As a result of putting 76084 on display we have had interest shown in our project through the various social media we are active on. Some even want to become shareholders which is brilliant.

A brilliant photo with a cation to be proud of is to be found in Issue 400 of Steam Railways and I think the same pic is on Flickr thanks to loose_grip_99 http://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/6989173009/

At the last reckoning there was a shortfall of £150,000 of which £10,000 was raised at the last Shareholders Day late in 2011. The gap in funding has now narrowed to approximately £100,000.

We are at a stage in 76084′s restoration when expensive parts need ordering and craftsmen need employing to finish the job off. In these uncertain economic times the injection of over £40,000 is magnificent. Those current and new shareholders who have dug deep in their pockets are to be thanked profusely by one and all. Certainly the Board are very grateful. The narrowing gap makes life a little easier if not perfect in terms of looking to bridge the gap. Their are a number of initiatives on the go at the moment that might reduce the gap even further. When, not if, they come to fruition we will let you know as soon as.

Thanks again to those recent subscribers.

Cinderella is getting ready to go to the Ball!!

We have started a couple of threads that you might be interested in so have a look around the blog site.

In the empty shop I took pity on the assistant and bought Marsden Rail number 15 Hellifield DVD. I watched by myself on the kitchen TV and my wife knew just why I shouted at the top of my voice.

Shortly into the DVD 76084 is seen coming into Hellifield with 3 coaches on a Blackburn – Hellifield stopping train. She then backs into the coaling area of Hellifield Shed.

76081 shed mate to our loco is also seen taking the train out but before she goes a 10 year old gets to cab her on film.

Habe you seen any footage of our loco anywhere?

At the 76084 Locomotive Company Limited’s recent Annual General Meeting in York the assembled shareholders were informed of two interesting initatives to raise the £150k needed to complete 76084′s restoration and return to steam.

One initiative is at a sensitive stage and when concluded will be announced here first.

The one that can be mentioned is that any new shares bought between now and 31 March 2012 will be doubly matched by a major shareholder. The hope is that if £25k came in from existing shareholders then it will be matched up to £75k being half of what is needed.

The FINAL PUSH is upon us.

Somebody painted her in red lead primer whilst at Barry. I can now reveal who that was. 5 members of the Hallamshire Preservation Society (also known as the South Yorkshire Railway Preservation Society) spent a mid-October weekend in 1974 at Barry. In the party was a Mr Moore who’s son Matthew gave us this information. The Society (a Registerd Charity in existence between 1979 and 1995) intended to purchase 76084 and in preparation for the purchase painted 76084 in red lead primer that weekend.

Why their preservation attempt failed is not know but for the rest of her sojourn at Barry 76084 stood out from the crowd as photos elsewhere show.

Mystery solved – thanks Matthew Moore!

The final push to complete the restoration is now on but money is needed to fund it. In a tight spot like this there is always one shareholder that will come up with the goods – Michael Corcoran from Chorley, Lancashire. Michael has sponsored the Boiler Mail Blowdown Valve – a very important part of the locomotive.

Thank you, Michael. Lets hope more people like you  step forward to make the final push something to remember when 76084 is mobile under her own steam.

This means that the 60 plus shareholders and friends attending the site on Saturday for the Shareholder’s Open Day will behold something that looks like a locomotive when 76084 is revealed at 12 noon.

The amount of restoration work done in the past 12 months is staggering and not only that it has all been done to the highest standard with no corners being cut (unless they had too).

We hope to have images of the day (today and Saturday) in the media shortly.

Cinderella will go to the Ball!!