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Museums Link Gets Old Loco Back on Track

Posted on: Monday, 12 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By TONY KEARNEY

A PIECE of North-East railway history is to be restored to working order more than 20 years after it last puffed into action - but at a museum 250 miles from home.

The Victorian steam locomotive, the sole surviving example of its type, has been hoisted on to a low-loader and moved from its home at Beamish Museum, north Durham, to begin the journey to the North Norfolk Railway for a two-year restoration, which is expected to cost more than 250,000.

The restoration has been made possible by a collaboration between the two museums, which will see the loco restored in Norfolk and subsequently shared between the two venues.

The survivor of the romantic age of steam goes by the unromantic name of No 65033 - one of the North Eastern Railway's J21 series.

Built in 1889, it was withdrawn from service on the LNER line in 1939, but was pressed back into action during the war and continued operating out of the North Blyth engine shed, Northumberland, until April 1962.

It was saved by Beamish in the 1970s, where its livery was restored and was occasionally steamed, the last time being in 1984, since when it has languished out of use.

However, the museum could not afford to restore the engine until a deal was struck with counterparts on the North Norfolk Railway.

The J21, currently undergoing a survey at the Flour Mill workshops in the Forest of Dean, will be restored at the East Anglian museum and in return will make a number of visits to Beamish each year alongside a J15 from Norfolk.

Paul Jarman, assistant keeper of transport at Beamish, said: "The successful culmination of this plan is wonderful news and we are delighted to be working with the superb heritage profile that the North Norfolk Railway enjoys.

"The opportunity to finally secure an operating future for this precious locomotive is cause for celebration and Beamish will once again be able to demonstrate working steam engines to the public at its North Eastern Railway station on some occasions during the year."

Beamish director Miriam Harte said: "We are thrilled that a way forward has been found and look forward to welcoming the North Norfolk Railway locomotives to the museum.

"The prospect of seeing our own J21 in action is also an exciting one and we hope that day will not be too far away."

An appeal to raise money for restoration will be launched in the New Year.

Source: Northern Echo

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