A new patron has committed to help funding the long-running project to restore the 35011 General Steam Navigation.

The project, the work of the General Steam Navigation Locomotive CIC (GSNCIC), has been underway for several years, as experts attempt to restore the aging Southern Railway Bulleid Merchant Navy class locomotive  21c11 / 35011 General Steam Navigation.

The new patron is Dr Alice Bunn OBE (FIMechE FRAeS CEng), the Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Dr Bunn has a PhD in Metallurgy from Darwin College, University of Cambridge, and an exhaustive resume. Among her many roles, she is a member of the Board of EngineeringUK, and chairs the Professional Engineering Committee.

Dr Bunn is also heavily involved in the UK’s space exploration community. She is the president of the UKSpace trade association, is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, is a member of the World Economic Forum Future Council, and advises Orbitfab.

In 2022 Dr Bunn was recognised on Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honours list for her contributions to the UK space sector and to charity, and she received an OBE.

Dr Bunn also serves as Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, providing her with a link to Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid, for whom the 35011 General Steam Navigation was named, served as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1946.

Restoration efforts on the 35011 General Steam Navigation have been slow and complicated. A year ago, an update was provided on work to restore the train’s trailing truck, but every step of the process has been a costly endeavour.

While the GSNCIC has undertaken a Heritage Fund Lottery Grant application, the project is made possible as a result of contributions from donors and a host of volunteers who put their time and effort into rebuilding and restoring the aging steam train.

Dr Bunn said of her decision to help fund the project:

“Whilst engineering technology is more important than ever for our future, we can always learn lessons from the past which is why I am delighted to take up the role of patron for this project.”