FORMER Eastwell Iron Ore Quarries 3ft-gauge Avonside 1547/1908 0-6-0T Nancy was the centrepiece project displayed at the annual Alan Keef Ltd’s Open Day on September 22.
Nancy wasn’t quite ready to be steamed (RM July), but Avonside Nancy Restoration Group (ANRG) has now raised sufficient finance for Keef’s to complete the restoration. A steam test is anticipated in December, with completion expected by Easter.
Nancy has not steamed since entering preservation in 1972.
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ANRG still needs to raise the cost of transport but envisages Nancy returning to Dromod, County Leitrim, before Britain exits the EU to avoid anticipated complications.
However, the possibility of Nancy being loaned to Isle of Man Steam Railway in 2019 remains under discussion. It is powerful and the Douglas to Port Erin steam line remains short of ideal steam availability.
The Cavan & Leitrim Railway (C&LR) has not run steam-hauled trains since resident 0-4-2T No. 1 Dromod’s ticket expired in 2004, with the running line requiring substantial work. The aim is to upgrade the track and use Nancy to relaunch C&LR.
Read more in the November issue of The RM – on sale now!
