Locomotive fundraiser moves full steam ahead

The fundraising efforts of volunteers at a heritage railway are moving full steam ahead to buy and renovate a historic locomotive.

The No.16, 0-6-0 saddle tank steam train, was built in 1934 to specifically work at the then new Corby Iron and Steel Works in Northamptonshire.

The Northampton & Lamport Railway (NLR) said it has the chance to take ownership of the vehicle, that it has temporarily stored since 2025, and was on track to raise £9,000.

Adam Giles, the charity's chairman, said the engine "proved to be extremely strong and reliable and were favourites among the enginemen at Corby".

The NLR is situated close to Northampton and uses part of the former LNWR Northampton to Market Harborough line, which was closed by British Rail in 1981.

It is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The group said No.16 was built by Hawthorn Leslie for Stewarts & Lloyds Ltd, specially for Corby and was withdrawn from service in 1969.

It has not steamed since then, is mostly complete with some restoration work carried out by its previous owners.

It plans to fully restore and return No.16 to steam.

Giles said: "Taking ownership of No.16 is a fantastic opportunity for the NLR, especially as we celebrate our 30th anniversary of opening to the public back in 1996.

"These types of engines proved to be extremely strong and reliable and were favourites among the enginemen at Corby.

"No.16 will be ideal for our two-mile line, and the relatively large cab will prove very useful for driver experiences."

Giles added there was a lot of work to get it back into steam but hopes it will be ready by its big 30th anniversary gala in August.

No.16 has moved around and it first entered preservation at the Nene Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire in 1974 and then went to the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire, Swanage Railway in Dorset, Lavender Line in East Sussex, and the Epping & Ongar Railway in Essex.

It also appeared as a static display at a waterpark in Leatherhead, Surrey, between 1985 and 2010.

Its sister Corby loco No.14 (Hawthorn Leslie No.14 – works no.3827) is on static display at East Carlton Country Park, in Northamptonshire.

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