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.