Plans to restore locomotive in Fife still on track

Fife Heritage Railway, based in Leven, took delivery of the steam locomotive, Andrew Barclay 2046, British Aluminium Company No.3, last week, following a successful fundraising campaign.

The group, which came to an agreement with the Scottish Railway Preservation Society for the loan and restoration of the locomotive, reached its £1200 target within a matter of days.

An anonymous donator from England even made a “significant” contribution, putting around £600 towards the project.

“We were all quite amazed,” said volunteer Jim Rankin.

“It’s encouraging and an exciting time. Our open days last year were better than previous years. The number of followers we’ve got on social media is also going up.

“We must be doing something right.”

The group will be doing cosmetic work on the locomotive for now, as the project is not a priority.

The locomotive was built for the British Aluminium Company by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co of Kilmarnock in 1937.

Delivered directly to the Bauxite reduction works in Burntisland in the same year, it spent the entirety of its working life there until the company invested in Fowler diesel locomotives in 1971, when it was placed in the shed as strategic reserve, if needed.

The locomotive was donated to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society in 1989, where it was placed in open storage.

For more info about the group, visit www.facebook.com/fifeheritagerailway.