Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historic Vehicles Trust has revealed that the loco ‘Fred’ will not be able to play a part at the event due to safety concerns

The locomotive, which is now known as “Fred” is a 4wd Diesel Mechanical 20 hp straight frame “Simplex” which worked on the construction of the flood defences at the time of the flood, has sadly been withdrawn from playing a part in the events at Sutton-on-Sea on Saturday the 4th of March 2023.

The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historic Vehicles Trust have withdrawn the locomotive after discussions with the event organisers had not met safety concerns raised by the East Lindsey Events Safety Advisory Group.

The Trust’s Chairman Richard Shepherd said: “The Trust’s priority at all times is the safety of those in and around our vehicles and equipment, as well as the safety and security of the historic vehicles we conserve.

“We are sorry to disappoint the many people who had been looking forward to the locomotive’s display in the events planned to commemorate the Flood. but our discussions with the organisers have not allayed our concerns that the issues raised by the Safety Advisory Group have been satisfactorily dealt with”.

The East Lindsey Safety Group is made up of Magna Vitae which is a charity which operates at a great deal of public facilities in the locality, East Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Lincolnshire County Council Highways Authority and Lincolnshire Police. Proposals had been discussed by the group on the 14th of February and following this, the decision was made by the Trust to withdraw the locomotive from the events.

The locomotive was built by Motor Rail Ltd in Bedford in 1947 for a company in Mablethorpe working under number 9264. Today the loco is based at the Skegness Water Leisure Park as part of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway‘s fleet.

The event had hoped to see the locomotive displayed near the seafront at Sutton-on-Sea pullover.