All the way from America

A historic Great Western Railway coach currently in store in the USA is lined up for a return to Britain. GWR Brake Coach no was sold in 1967 and shipped across the water to the "Steamtown" Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Following discussions with the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust, the United States National Park Service would be prepared to donate no 6705 to the Trust to be the start of the Trust’s Collett train. For this it is ideal - it is a Guard’s Brake, it provides both first and third class accommodation, a toilet and luggage space. Best of all, it is has not been stripped of its internal fittings. Andy Forster, the WSR Chief Mechanical Engineer has said that the vehicle is worth the transport costs for the fixtures and fittings alone and that the vehicle, while tatty, appears to be "totally recoverable". But it is the wrong side of the Atlantic! There is, for a brief window of opportunity, a solution. Modern diesel locomotives are manufactured in North America and shipped, in several batches each year, from Halifax in Canada to Europe and/or the UK. A shipper of modern diesel locomotives, built in North America and soon due to be shipped to Europe, has very generously agreed to bring GWR no 6705 back to the UK with the next shipment. To raise the necessary funds for shipping. movement from Scranton to Halifax, crane hire, port dues and transport in UK, the WSSRT are appealing for funds of perhaps £20000. The full story and appeal can be found on the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust website...