A LIVE music night at Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster Station tea room will raise funds towards restoring an important piece of British history.
Local band After Hours will perform music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s from 6pm to 8pm tomorrow (Saturday, May 2).
The cash raised will go to the Stanier 8F Locomotive Society Ltd charity which is trying to restore the RE Memorial Locomotive No 48773 to its former glory.
The historic locomotive was built in 1940 to assist with the war effort and was numbered 307 by the War Department.
Following Hitler’s invasion of Russia in 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill wanted to help Russian leader Stalin.
The Arctic convoys to Archangel and Murmansk are famous, but less well known is the second supply route known as ‘The Back Door to Russia’ using the ports of the Persian Gulf and Iranian State Railways. A contingent of 42 locomotives and 2,500 Royal Engineers (Railway Sappers) embarked for Iran in September.
With recent reports on the Strait of Hormuz dominating global headlines, it is fascinating to report this locomotive – based at the SVR – negotiated that very waterway as part of the convoy which arrived at the Iranian port of Abadan in early December 1941.
On display at the SVR’s Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley, what was the War Department’s locomotive No 307, is now displayed carrying its British Railways No 48773.
Returned to the UK in 1952 after service in Egypt’s Suez Canal Zone, the locomotive was bought by the Society from British Railways in 1968.
Since then, the locomotive has travelled 152,000 miles on revenue earning service on the SVR and visits to other heritage railways.
In recognition of its military service overseas, 48773 was Dedicated as the Royal Engineers Memorial Locomotive in 1986.
Subsequently, with the aid of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the number of casualties was researched and in 2002, 354 names were recorded on a Roll of Honour now displayed at Highley.
Tomorrow’s music night came about thanks to Maurice Preece from Bromsgrove who is the bass player for After Hours and is also a member of the Stanier 8F Locomotive Society.
Society chairman Jeff Ryan said: “We were delighted to accept Maurice’s very generous offer and are looking forward to a hugely enjoyable trip down memory lane.”
Maurice added: “After Hours band members have enthusiastically endorsed this event for an extremely worthwhile cause.”
The amount needed to give the historic locomotive the extensive overhaul it needs to get it back on track will be more than £1million.
The charity has raised more than £170,000 to date.
Tickets for tomorrow’s music night are £8.50, available from Maurice on 07766 755889 or visitors can pay on the night.
Visit 8fsociety.co.uk for more on the society and Locomotive No 48773.
