Wainwright 'C' gifted to Bluebell Trust

摘要

South Eastern & Chatham 'C' No. 592 will remain at the Bluebell Railway in perpetuity after the society that has owned it for 47 years handed the 0-6-0 over to the Bluebell Railway Trust. The decision by the now-redundant Wainwright'C Preservation Society (WCPS) means that the 113-year-old locomotive is destined to remain at the Sussex Line, its home since August 16,1970. Although the 'C' is currently sidelined at Sheffield Park in need of firebox repairs, it still has three years to run on its boiler certificate, prior to being withdrawn ahead of its fourth preservation-era overhaul. The agreement between the trusts also ensures that No. 592 will remain in its Victorian lined green livery, as has been shown on the loco since 1994. This decision is supported by the fact that the 'C is restored to 'as-built condition', according to WCPS honorary secretary Neil De Maid. It previously carried plain green SECR livery during its brief spell at the erstwhile Ashford Steam Centre (1966-1970) and its initial running spell at the Bluebell.