Here at RailAdvent, we have decided to start covering more news on the many new build and restoration steam projects which are in progress.

To start off, I have chosen to outline project details of the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society (GSNLRS).

This article will cover an overview of the Project and will also give you a background view of the Project. To finish off with, we will give you a small update on the progress of the build.

Yesterday we covered the update of 35011’s sister locomotive – you can see this here

Aim of the New Build Steam Project

Launching in 2015, GSNLRS’ aim is to restore Merchant Navy (MN) 35011 “General Steam Navigation” into her original condition.

35011 was designed by O.V.S.Bulleid.

GSNLRS purchased 35011 in August 2016, which was a huge step towards getting her running again.

Background

The first class member was built in 1941 at Southern Railway’s Eastleigh Work. They had many new and uncommon features, which other British designed and built locomotives didn’t have.

Such features include Chain Valve Gearing – designed by Bulleid; Thermal Syphons; Bulleid Firth Brown (BFB) wheels, heavy uses of Wielding in construction and Air-Smoothed sheet-Steel casting for the boiler.

When British Railways (BR) was testing the MN Class, it was decided to rebuild them, removing many of the features listed above. Many of these features, Bulleid’s Chain Valve Gearing, in particular, was found to require high maintenance, which in BR days couldn’t be offered. The rebuilt MNs looked very different, especially as the Air-Smoothed casting had been removed and in its place more conventional looking cladding. Bulleid’s Chain Valve Gearing was also removed and replace with Walschaerts valve gear. By 1960, all 30 class members had been rebuilt.

Despite rebuilding, the first class members were withdrawn in 1964, with all being withdrawn by 1967 when Southern Region steam ended.

Out of the 30 built, 11 have survived into preservation, with only 5 being restored as of 2017. With no plans in progress to restore an MN into original condition, the GSNLRS stepped in to take the task on.

Progress

Progress so far in the project has been good. On several weekends, working parties have taken place to start restoring 35011.

Many parts have been acquired, the lasted and more important part being a Steam Reverser to Bulleid design.

A few parts are missing, but these can be easily made.

One of the bigger obstacles with the project started to be overcome this year, this is converting the current plain flawed axle to a crank axle. The flawed plain axle has been sent away to SDR Engineering, where it has been stored awaiting the funds to be raised to carry out the work on it.

Currently, GSNLRS are looking for a new base for 35011, before dismantling on a large scale can take place.

Its hoped a new base can be found in 2018.

If you would like to get involved with the GSNLRS or would like to find out more information, please visit their website here

I hope you enjoyed this new type of article, I plan to post updates from GSNLRS when new progress is released.

I should also be posting similar articles about other new builds projects.

• Visit the GSNLRS Website
  For more information