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GoFundMe page launched to help cover the cost to move General Steam Navigation to a new location and create a new working base at The Yeovil Railway Centre.

The General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society is embarking on an exciting new chapter as we prepare to relocate the iconic Merchant Navy class locomotive 35011 General Steam Navigation to a new secure storage location and separately set up a new volunteer working base at the Yeovil Railway Centre. This move marks a significant step forward in our aim to restore this magnificent locomotive to her original Bulleid condition, complete with the original air smooth casing and Bulleid’s unique patented chain driven valve gear.

With our new working base at The Yeovil Railway Centre, our dedicated volunteers are ready to commence the next phase of restoration. This facility will enable us to start to manufacture essential new components for 35011, bringing us closer to realising our vision of seeing her restored as she was when first built.

However, this ambitious project comes with its challenges. The cost of relocating the locomotive, along with its parts and storage containers, exceeds £10,000. We are looking for your support in raising £5,000 towards this goal. Every contribution counts; the more we can raise together, the more resources we can allocate towards the ongoing restoration efforts.

Please visit and donate to our GoFundme page here…

Join us here,  if you are not already a member,  in this journey and help us bring 35011 General Steam Navigation back to life!  

Crank Axle, Engineering Update, Monthly updates, Other News

General Steam Navigation – Strategy Update

Further to the decision by the National Heritage Lottery Fund not to give the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society (GSNLRS) Stage 1 bid a pass, at the end of 2024 the Swindon & Cricklade Railway advised the GSNLRS that a Merchant Navy locomotive no longer aligned with their vision and business plan for the railway and were asked to find another home. Blunsdon has been a good home for the last 5 years and it has afforded GSNLRS the opportunity to lift the boiler, complete full surveys and remove various components for preservation and overhaul. The GSNLRS are very grateful to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway for their help and assistance.
The General Steam Navigation project isn’t a straightforward restoration of an ex Barry locomotive. Whilst it’s not a new build the work required is extensive and is probably best compared with the engineering effort required to create the new Saint or Grange.
The decision by the Swindon & Cricklade Railway has therefore helped the GSNLRS define their future strategy:

  1. 35011 General Steam Navigation will move to a private site near Templecombe for storage until funds are reached to place a contract with a heritage engineering company to commence work on the rolling chassis.
  2. GSNLRS have agreed with our friends at Yeovil Railway Centre that their Society’s volunteers can hold working parties at their site using their facilities. This will enable us to overhaul items removed from 35011 and to construct and fabricate new parts.
  3. Leaky Finders have been very supportive of the project and GSNLRS are in discussion with them to commence work on the frames, initially producing the unique frame stretchers required for an original Merchant Navy.
  4. Work continues behind the scenes producing the ‘Bill of Materials’ a task that underpins future procurement and restoration phases, and CAD design, particularly for ‘original’ components where drawings are unavailable.
  5. 35011 donated its crank axle to 35026 upon withdrawal in 1966. This has been a major issue for the project and one that will be addressed over the coming months with design work almost complete and order placement for the new crank axle materials will be imminent.
  6. Once sufficient components have been procured for the rolling chassis, and funding reaches the required level, 35011 will go into the works for rebuilding and restoration. No company has been selected for this part of the project at this time which will be subject to competitive tender when funding allows.

Further details have been provided to their Society members in the latest edition of “The Packet” our in-house magazine. If you are not already a member of the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society you can join here to be part of the project and get all the latest news and information first.

National Lottery Heritage Fund

General Steam Navigation update on plans for 2025

Following the decision by the National Heritage Lottery Fund not to give their Stage 1 bid a pass back in September 2025 the General Steam Navigation CIC (GSNCIC) have continued a dialog with the Lottery Fund whilst considering our future options. This takes into consideration the request from the Swindon & Cricklade Railway that we move away from the railway as a Merchant Navy locomotive does not align with their future vision and business plan.

GSNCIC have announced to their Society members in the latest edition of “The Packet” the in-house magazine that they are in positive discussions with potential contractors Leaky Finders Ltd and hope that this will enable us to relocate GSN in the latter half of 2025. No decision has been made on a revised lottery application at this time.  We will release more information once our discussions have concluded.

National Lottery Heritage Fund, Other News, The Packet

The National Lottery Heritage Fund Bid Outcome

We announced at our Annual General Meeting in June 2024 that we met the deadline and submitted our highly detailed National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) Stage One application. The application was completed along with our strategic application partners; The Swindon and Cricklade Railway, and our planned home for main line running The Yeovil Railway Centre.

The board thanks all our members that assisted with the funding of the Stage One application.

Unfortunately, we have been advised that our stage one bid has been rejected on the basis that the proposed programme, planned within the constraints of the NLHF’s guidelines, would, in their opinion, take much longer and cost considerably more. This would place the long term sustainability of the project at risk. The bottom line was that the substantial cost of our project, together with its complexity and inherent high risk, did not represent value for the NLHF.

Whilst we can’t go forward with this application the NLHF has stated they would be happy to offer us advice with a smaller, less complex and lower risk project. We are therefore already in discussion with the NLHF regarding the viability of a 2nd application that, alongside the engineering work, would place an emphasis on community engagement, young people, skills development, apprenticeships and diversity. The NLHF recognised the quality and detail of our application and submitting a scaled down and less complex application should not incur much additional cost.

Whilst the outcome is of course disappointing, the vast amount of work and content that was completed and necessary for the bid is just as relevant and necessary for the project going forwards and puts us in a stronger position than we were prior to making the bid.

The board is currently reviewing the future structure, personnel and options for the project and initiating discussions with both existing and potential new strategic partners.

We aim to provide more details of the strategic plan for the future and progress on engineering in the next issue of the members magazine The Packet.  We will also confirm if our follow up conversations with the NLHF have been constructive and will result in us pursuing a 2nd application. Our initial EOI was rejected, and we were invited to make some changes and resubmit, which led to a pass at that stage.

Whilst the outcome is of course disappointing, we reiterate that the work, content and involvement of our strategic partners within the application is hugely beneficial to the project and the current board remain committed to the aim of recreating General Steam Navigation to her original as-built condition complete with air smooth casing and Bulleid’s unique patented chain driven valve gear.

if you are not already a member, for details on how to join and click here.

National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Packet

National Lottery Heritage Fund Stage one application submitted

Having had our Expression of interest accepted by the London and South Panel of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in June 2023, we announced at our Annual General Meetings on Saturday 29th June 2024 that we met the deadline and submitted our highly detailed Stage One application that comprised of an over 20,000 word application along with 93 separate supporting documents. This application has been completed along with our strategic application partners; our restoration home, The Swindon and Cricklade Railway, and our planned home for main line running The Yeovil Railway Centre.

We hope to learn if we have been successful with the application to move making a Stage Two – development application in late September 2024.

Further details on the application will be with the next issue of our members magazine The Packet, if you are not already a member, for details on how to join and click here.

GSN Merchandise, Limited Edition Wagons

GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION NEW AILSA TROON LIMITED EDITION N GAUGE WAGONS

General Steam Navigation limited edition wagon range increases with new Ailsa Troon 20t mineral wagons in N Gauge marking the anniversary of the building of the Medway Queen Paddle Steamer.  Produced in cooperation with the Medway Queen Preservation Society.

In the 1930s the General Steam Navigation Company (GSN) worked closely with the New Medway Steam Packet Company and in 1936 acquired the New Medway Company outright. These new wagons are part of the cooperation between the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society and the Medway Queen Preservation Society, based on Gillingham Pier.

The paddle steamer, Medway Queen, was built by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company of Troon and launched on St. George’s Day (23rd April) 1924, the two societies have commissioned a further joint batch of N Gauge 20T mineral wagons in an Ailsa Troon livery in either green or brown from Dapol to mark the anniversary.

Sales will directly help the restoration of locomotive 21c11 / 35011, General Steam Navigation, and of PS Medway Queen.

The N Gauge 20T wagon cost £14.30 each. 

The post and packing price is the same for buying a single wagon or both colour versions together.

These and all our Limited Edition wagons are  available from the General Steam Navigation website online store at https://35011gsn.co.uk/online-shop.html 

GSN Merchandise, Limited Edition Wagons

GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION NEW AILSA TROON LIMITED EDITION WAGONS

General Steam Navigation limited edition wagon range increases with new Ailsa Troon open wagons in 00 Gauge marking the anniversary of the building of the Medway Queen Paddle Steamer.  Produced in cooperation with the Medway Queen Preservation Society.

In the 1930s the General Steam Navigation Company (GSN) worked closely with the New Medway Steam Packet Company and in 1936 acquired the New Medway Company outright. These new wagons are part of the cooperation between the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society and the Medway Queen Preservation Society, based on Gillingham Pier.

The paddle steamer, Medway Queen, was built by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company of Troon and launched on St. George’s Day (23rd April) 1924, the two societies have commissioned a further joint batch of 00 7 Plank Open Wagons in an Ailsa Troon livery in either green or brown with coal load from Dapol to mark the anniversary.

Sales will directly help the restoration of locomotive 21c11 / 35011, General Steam Navigation, and of PS Medway Queen.

The 00 Gauge 7 plank open wagon complete with coal load cost £12.90 each. 

The post and packing price is the same for buying a single wagon or both colour versions together.

These and all our Limited Edition wagons are  available from the General Steam Navigation website online store at https://35011gsn.co.uk/online-shop.html 

Engineering Update

Happy 2024 – Winter Engineering Report

Firstly, we wish all our members and supporters a very happy 2024,  it promises to be a very busy and important one for 35011 General Steam Navigation, as we prepare, finalise and submit our National Lottery Heritage Fund application, we are working extremely hard behind the scenes with  strategic application partners to meet the rapidly deadline of June 2024!

Winter Engineering Report 

Our Engineering update that follows is a extract from the main Engineering report that is published in our Members magazine The Packet, if you are not already a member, if not why not? To further support the project and receive your own copy of The Packet, Why make it a new years resolution to join us by clicking here, it’s simple and can be one resolution you keep! 

Boiler & Firebox

This has now been cleaned and inspected, The news is not all bad, but as we intend to run on the main line we have to juggle repairing verses replace.  The front tube plate will need replacing, and some, if not all, of the rear tube plate will need replacing. Crucially, the boiler barrel itself is fine, though it may require some small bits of work. The firebox will need a replacement bottom edge  as the metal is too thin,  all the repair welds will need checking as they are indicative of cracking. So we probably look to replace the box entirely.

Frames

As part of the process of preparing the frames for unrebuilding, we are slowly removing, cleaning up and replacing the “nuts and bolts”
retaining the cylinders to the chassis where possible.
It is a slow process, many of the bolts have not been moved since 1959, but it will save money and time later when we are ready to install the new middle cylinder.
Similarly, our volunteers have been cleaning up the frame stretchers, so we can better assess their condition and suitability for
retention or replacement.

Leading bogie

Preparing the leading bogies ahead of its full restoration

Our volunteers have been prepping the leading bogie for restoration and preparation for mainline running. The general condition of the
bogie is good, we are working on releasing the side control unit,
and the rest of the bogie is ready for restoration. As discussions and thoughts around installing European Train Control System (ETCS) coalesce (more information in The Packet) we may need to add some bracketry to the bogie to mount the forward Balise Transmission Module.

Behind the scenes
As well as just the visible physical engineering our Engineering sub committee have of course also been very heavily involved  in producing the over 17 work packages, to date that  detail the specifications and costs to support our National Lottery Heritage Fund application

Engineering Strategy
Also included in the latest issue of our members magazine The Packet is our full Engineering  Strategy,  join us by clicking here, to receive your full copy of The Packet

If you are also interested in getting involved more directly with the Engineering side of the project in any way, especially if you have any experience with Bulleid pacifics (but not essential) Contact Us here.

National Lottery Heritage Fund, Other News

General Steam Navigation welcomes visit by Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon

General Steam Navigation CIC (GSNCIC) welcomed Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, who visited Blunsdon at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway to view 35011 General Steam Navigation and discuss the current application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The application is focussed around the reconstruction and restoration of the Merchant Navy Pacific to original Bulleid condition, making it unique in preservation. Whilst the work on 35011 meets the “Saving Heritage” element of the bid, the other key Heritage Fund investment principles will be partially addressed with a new building at Blunsdon (which will be a Swindon & Cricklade Railway asset) to encompass engineering facilities together with training and education spaces.

L to R – Jon Netting (Treasurer – General Steam Navigation), Cllr Matt Vallender, David Tucker (Heritage Consultant), Justin Tomlinson MP, Robert Battersby (Architect), Nigel Willoughby (Trustee S&C Rly), Cllr Mark Clarke, Cllr Jason Mills, Gerry Leyman (Chair – General Steam Navigation CIC), Mike Abbott (Chair – S&C Rly).

Justin was accompanied by 3 local councillors, Mark Clarke (Cricklade Town), Matt Vallender and Jason Mills (Swindon Borough).

Following the visit Justin said “We will all be working together as they prepare their National Heritage Lottery fund bid. The Swindon & Cricklade Railway is a much loved and popular local service, so I have no doubt there will be strong local community support for this bid.

I have fed in a number of suggestions on how to strengthen the bid including working with a wide a range of local community groups, including all the local schools, Parish Council’s and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

As someone from a family of steam enthusiasts, I am very excited to be supporting this fantastic bid”.

National Lottery Heritage Fund, Other News, Patron

General Steam Navigation announces new patron – Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng

General Steam Navigation Locomotive CIC (GSNCIC) announce that Dr Alice Bunn has agreed to become patron of the project to restore the Bulleid Merchant Navy pacific locomotive 35011 to her original condition.

Dr Alice Bunn on site at Blunsdon with Jon Netting (Treasurer) and Gerry Leyman (Chairman) of the General Steam Navigation CIC.

Dr. Alice Bunn OBE (FIMechE FRAeS CEng) is the Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). She has previously served as the International Director at the UK Space Agency. Alice is responsible for increasing the UK’s global influence in science, security, and trade through space. She has a background in metallurgy and has worked in various organisations such as the Science Museum, London, and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Alice has also played a significant role in international collaborations and agreements related to space missions and satellite imagery.

Alice sits on the Board of EngineeringUK; is Chair of the Professional Engineering Committee; is President of the UKSpace trade association; acts as advisor to Orbitfab; and sits on the World Economic Forum Future Council on space technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, has a PhD in Metallurgy from Darwin College, University of Cambridge and received an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the UK space sector and to charity.

Alice joins the General Steam Navigation project at a pivotal time, lending credibility and support to the GSNCIC’s Heritage Fund Lottery application and will help raise the profile of the project to put the steam back into General Steam Navigation at a national level.

As Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Alice has a direct connection with O V S Bulleid, who was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1946.

On becoming patron Alice said, ‘Whilst engineering technology is more important than ever for our future, we can always learn lessons from the past which is why I am delighted to take up the role of patron for this project’.

Dr Alice Bunn is presented with a print of General Steam Navigation in original condition by Jon Netting

Alice visited Blunsdon to look over General Steam Navigation in early October where she met members of the General Steam Navigation directors / Society Trustees and the Swindon and Cricklade Railway where the locomotive is based. Alice learned more about the ongoing work to restore and reconstruct General Steam Navigation to its pre rebuilt air smoothed condition, making it unique in preservation. Alice was made an honorary member of the Restoration Society and presented with a print of General Steam Navigation in original as built condition.

Montly updates from the 35011 project