Following a donation of a Permaquip Panex Clip Extractor, the Rail Trolley Trust has added a Permaquip Permaclipper track machine to its fleet of small track machines.

Last February Bob Foster of B&R Track Services approached the trust to advise it that the Permaclipper which was stored on the Churnet Valley Railway at Cheddleton was no longer required, and looking to find a home for it.

After some discussions about adding some small track machines to its fleet, the Trust’s Board agreed it was an obvious next step. As a result, and after some further discussions, B&R Track Services agreed to donate the Permaclipper to the Trust.

On 22nd June, Dawson (Structural) Engineering Co. Ltd transported the Permaclipper from Cheddleton to the Tanat Valley Light Railway, near Oswestry, where it joined trust’s Shropshire Collection.

The Permaquip Permaclipper was built in 1984 and is fitted with a Lister TL2 diesel engine. Its works number is 017 and running number is 91637. The Trust understands that it ceased to be used it developed an electrical fault that prevented it from starting. However, the Trust has copies of Operating Instructions and Parts Lists for both the Mk III & Mk IV versions in its Technical Library, which should help in restoring the machine.

The Trust is now looking to raise a minimum of £10k, and hopefully nearer £20k, through a public fundraising appeal. Funds raised will go towards moving more of the Trust’s collection to its two secure locations, increasing the suitable storage accommodation for some of its older and more historic vehicles, and making further progress on several important restoration projects.

Donations can be made through the Trust’s Givey account at https://www.givey.com/trtt.

A charity PayPal account is hoped to be opened in the coming weeks.

The Trust has expressed its thanks to Bob Foster / B&R Track Services for donating the vehicle to the Trust, and to Dawson (Structural) Engineering Co. Ltd for the professional and efficient way in which they transported the machine.