About the Trust


Work on the overhaul of 5025 began at the beginning of 2012. This was thanks to grants or promises of support from the Strathspey Railway Company, the Strathspey Railway Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund the Strathspey Railway Association and the significant amount which had already been raised from our supporters though appeals.

Major progress has been made on the locomotive and tender frames, axleboxes, motion, dragboxes and valve gear at Aviemore and on the major rebuild of the boiler, reprofiling of the tyres of the locomotive and tender wheels and construction of a new tender tank at Riley Engineering of Bury. Work has also included the casting and machining of a pair of new cylinders

The WEC Watkinson Trust originally hoped to return 5025 to service in 2015, however owing to the amount of work needed, we now hope that the engine will be ready towards the end of the 2019 season. ( see edit below)

We are still on track for 2019 to be the year in which the oldest and best example of a L.M.S. Black Five steams again. Due to a very tight budget the original intention was to return 5025 to traffic by carrying out the minimum necessary work. However, she is an iconic locomotive and quite early on the sensible decision was taken to restore her to “as new” condition. This has resulted in considerable extra work and expense and has left the Watkinson Trust desperate for funds.

Edit, we were heavily delayed waiting for the boiler, this has put the completion date back to around summer 2020.

Further edit, owing to covid lockdown, this has been further delayed, completion date is now summer 2021.

The original budget of £354,050 has been spent wisely and with care. However, additional boiler work has cost a further £39,345, new cylinders and frame repairs £33,350, and other work such as a new cab, injectors and super heaters upwards of £22,500.

Although most of the work now being carried out is labour intensive, certain costly goods and services are essential to finishing the job and it is only with your help that we can make it happen.

We still need to complete the tender tank and the under frame, produce boiler cladding, purchase copper pipe and various fixings and fastenings and pay for transport, crane hire and specialist machining.

The Watkinson Trust would like to thank you for any generous donation you are able to make towards a successful conclusion.

Please use the “Donate” facility below to support this worthwhile project through Paypal.














Friday 29 September 2017

Lots of small jobs = some progress

 Water is injected into the boiler at the top, to ensure that the water is directed to the sides and not straight down onto the tubes, this deflector plate is fitted.  The original was completely life expired, badly corroded and falling to bits.  This is the new fabrication which will be delivered to Riley's engineering for fitting to the boiler.


 Another view of the underside, it attaches to the stays inside the boiler via the clamps fitted below it.


The riveting of the cab is still to take place, before this can happen the cab panels have to be removed to clean the paint from between the joints.  This is the cab front piece, paint removed, prior to refitting.


Now bolted back into place.


The reversing rod support bracket clamped into place before drilling the fixing holes.


The reversing rod now fitted with the tunnel also in place on the right.


Benny bolting the tunnel into place.


The business end of the rod is attached to the reverser itself, which now has its cover fitted.


Benny lining up the rod whilst holding the head of the bolts with a spanner.


Pipework and one of the sand box filling pipes fitted.


The vacuum system pipework is gradually being fitted.


The pipe run underneath the running board.


A view between the frames with pipework and one of the sandboxes fitted.


Another view from the cab area.


Underneath the left hand running board, linkage, pipework and the reversing rod.


Another sand box with the filling pipe fitted.


The right hand expansion link fitted.


Not a brilliant picture but this shows the lubricator linkage and in the background is the eye bolt which is used to lift the connecting rod.


A close up of the lubricator pipe work.





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