THE PEAK Locomotive Company is hosting a social and fundraising running day with 45041 Royal Tank Regiment on the Nene Valley Railway, with proceeds to benefit the ongoing overhaul of Class 46 D182’s steam heat boiler.
It is planned that 45041 will work five return trips on the NVR’s seven-mile route on August 11, starting from Wansford at about 09.30 (the final timetable was still being finalised as this issue was being prepared). Tickets are £25 and can be purchased on the day or in advance. Any readers interested in joining in should contact Andy Piper at piper127@virginmedia.com for further details. 45041 is also rostered to be in operation on the NVR’s timetabled services on August 12.
The PLC owns four Peak locomotives: Class 44 D4 Great Gable, 45041, 45108 and Class 46 D182. Presently, D4 and D182 are located at the PLC’s home base on the Midland Railway – Butterley, while 45041 is at the Nene Valley Railway and 45108 is on long-term loan to the East Lancashire Railway.
The PLC has so far spent about £15,000 of the estimated £20,000 cost of overhauling the Spanner steam heat boiler from D182, which, once completed, will allow the locomotive to be used throughout the year on heritage lines that do not have electric train heat coaching stock – a handicap for many railways in using diesel locomotives during the winter months, with only a small number of diesels currently fitted with operational steam heat boilers.
PLC chairman Mike Kerry told Railways Illustrated that the fundraiser was a great opportunity for PLC members and supporters to spend time behind one of the group’s locomotives, while also raising funds towards the costs
