A 1950s steam locomotive will be moving to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway (S&CR).
 
The General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society are moving locomotive 35011 to the Blunsdon site to help its restoration efforts.
 
It aims to retro-convert the locomotive to its original specification before it was rebuilt by restoring its air smoothed casing along with Bulleid's oil bath encased valve gear incorporating chain drive.
 
Once complete, it will be the first engine to be restored to as-built condition within the ranks of preserved Merchant Navy class locomotives.
 
Railway chairman Mick Lay said, "We are pleased to welcome this group. General Steam Navigation will be a valuable and useful locomotive when we extend to Cricklade and also help raise the profile of the railway while it is restored. We hope both the Swindon & Cricklade Railway and the GSN Society will benefit by combined mutual support, and a sharing of skills and knowledge. The S&CR will gain more working members, be part of a national project to restore 35011, and give the GSN team a permanent home from which to work."
 
Working in association with other locomotive groups based at the S&CR, the plan is to remove the locomotive boiler for the first time since it was withdrawn by British Railways, to allow thorough restoration of the locomotive frames and wheel sets.
 
GSN chairman Simon Shutt said, "This move will enable us to take the project to the next step and escalate our efforts to put the steam back into General Steam Navigation."
 
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