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Project to restore oldest of her class loco is on a roll after latest additions in Aviemore





Making good progress on No 9 are Brian Thomson, Nick Thompson, Shed foreman Nathan Lightowler and Shed Dog Nigel, John Bratchell-Hunt, Roddie McRae, Alan French, Keith Holyland, Brian Warrender and Colin Boyd.
Making good progress on No 9 are Brian Thomson, Nick Thompson, Shed foreman Nathan Lightowler and Shed Dog Nigel, John Bratchell-Hunt, Roddie McRae, Alan French, Keith Holyland, Brian Warrender and Colin Boyd.

A locomotive which is the oldest of her kind having been built during the Seciondb World War has been given a fresh set of legs.

Austerity 0-6-0 No 9 was re-wheeled yesterday as part of six years of restoration by staff and volunteers at the Strathspey Railway at their Aviemore workshop.

The project was volunteer lead but overlooking the work was engine shed foreman Nathan Lightowler whose knowledge and workmanship has seen the Stanier Black 5 5025 - the oldest working loco of the class - gradually being brought back to life.

Strathspey Railway spokesman Roddie McRae said: “No 9 still needs a lot of work by all before she will be in steam again.

“However, getting to this stage is a huge leap forward and will allow the top half to progress.

“The shed trio of Alan French, Nick Thompson and Roddie McRae have been at the forefront of the restoration as the volunteer leads and started work in June 2019 although Covid got in the way for a while.”

The old lady has a brand new set of wheels.
The old lady has a brand new set of wheels.

The engine was built in Newcastle by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd in 1943 (Works no 7097) for the War Department and given the number WD75061.

She was stored at first and then bought by the NCB and started work in 1946 at Backworth Colliery in Northumberland and stayed there for most of her life until being bought by the Strathspey Railway in the embryonic days of the heritage railway in 1976.

Again she was stored and worked briefly in 2008 before being laid over once again.

The current restoration began in June 2019.

Updates on the project are being provided at austerityno9.blogspot.com .

As well as those pictured, also working on No 9 are David Griffiths, Martin Chudleigh, Zoe Connor and many others.


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