Danish F Class 654 and the ESPS

**ANNOUNCEMENT**

'European Steam Preservation Society'

A new society to be based at the Nene Valley Railway has arrived! Built on the history of the NVR and its continental roots, the aim of this new society is to focus on the restoration and operation of locomotives from across Europe, preserving continental steam in the UK for the 21st century - The European Steam Preservation Society.

So with this, comes our first major announcement. We are pleased to share with you all that we have been offered a stable mate for Nene Valley Railways 656, it's elder sibling no less - Danish State Railway F class number 654!

With the Nene Valley Railway operating its own Danish F class, no.656, interest in its restoration and operation has been received far and wide, notably from Neumünster, Germany. At the Kulturlokschuppen museum, identical locomotive class member no.654 resides in static condition, having last ran in 2017. With the Neumünster museum due to recieve a new locomotive next year and space limited, it's current owners have expressed their desire to sell 654 onwards to a new home, with the wish that it returns to operation under new ownership.

Following an in depth conversation with the owner, and a visit to see 654 in Neumünster by two of the groups members, the decision was made to create the European Steam Preservation Society and look to purchase the locomotive, bring 654 to the Nene Valley Railway, and operate the loco once restored to running condition.

This is a unique opportunity, both for the Nene Valley Railway and for the fledgling 'ESPS', and we are extremely keen to share this opportunity with all of you!

So far, a deposit to secure the locomotive has been submitted and and agreement between the two parties is drafted. After this and once the society has completed all relevant documentation, fundraising will open to finalise purchase and transportation of the locomotive to bring 654 to rejoin its twin at Wansford.

The condition of 654 has been assessed and signs are promising that the locomotive can expect a return to steam swiftly and without too much difficulty.

We can't wait to show more of 654, the society, and how you can get involved! Watch this space for more exciting news updates coming over the coming days and weeks!

 

Our first major fundraising appeal has launched to help purchase and get 654 to Wansford!

for just £6.54 a month - less than the price of a cup of coffee a week, you can help support our appeal as well as be in with the chance of winning one of three cash prizes in our monthly draw!

to sign up, click on the link below:

https://european-steam-preservation...giqlixpttTziQuCwWw_aem_sHSN0KIq-seVi0mvuf8T6Q

 

If you would like to make a one off donation, please consider donating on our justgiving page on the link below, or email europeansteampreservation@gmail.com for further options:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...IzFpvyKFFvWHVVNt1g_aem_uTB6f6b1OfedNRg45N2HJQ

 

"The condition of 654 has been assessed and signs are promising that the locomotive can expect a return to steam swiftly and without too much difficulty."

How many times have I heard this in the past.....................?
Is there any interest in European steam in this country? Most enthusiasts are very insular with regard to their hobby.

 

The NVR’s Eurosteam events were quite popular back in the day and people still turn up to ride behind the Danish and Polish tanks so interest is there. Sufficiently interest to fund this project? Only time will tell.

 

Hi Brennan,

we have had two engineers go over and assess the locomotive and its boiler which is why we are confident in what we say about a swift return to steam, the bottom end has been maintained to an extremely high standard, the boiler requires work but at the level we expect it to be is no more than standard repairs to rivets, stays, studs etc - however there is always the chance further work is required which is a given.

The Polish tank and F class already at NVR are extremely popular with the public, and it is noticeable that the continental locos are the more favoured ones by enthusiasts when asked at the NVR.

 

I'm interesed to know what screw threads are used on these 'F' class. The Middleton Railway has the German built Danish Hs tank loco which we have just started the long task of overhauling. The fastenings and other threads on the loco are generally Whitworth form (BSW, BSP, etc) and I wondered if the same applied to the 'F' class?

 

Hi Steve,
I’m pretty sure 656 was mainly whitworth as well when that was overhauled

 

That intrigues me. Prior to this I would have expected everything to be metric, given both its German origin and subsequent life in Denmark. The GA of a Hs that I have is certainly dimensioned in millimetres. I also think that the Belgian Cockerill 'Lucie' also has imperial fastenings but that could have been from when it was overhauled at Dorothea Restorations back in the 80's.

 

I remember the late Eightpot regaling a tale of a German 'Dampsflugmann' (Steamploughman) rushing up to Him holding a bolt and saying 'Vitvort, Vitvort.' Similarly German slang for a rule is 'incstuck' (Inch stick)

 

Something that has been rattling round my head is NVR engine policy. It isn't that long ago Newstead was asked to vacate because of some nebulus issue of there being too many small engines and now an even smaller small engine is provisionally joining the fold?

 

Whatever the reasoning behind Newstead’s departure, the loco seems to have more than proved it’s worth elsewhere.

 

No harm in mentioning this here, but it was already announced two months ago on the Nene Valley Railway thread https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/nene-valley-railway.693667/page-53

 

https://nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-items/hunslet-16-0-6-0st-no1589-newstead/

That was my understanding of it as well - not so much that the loco wasn't big enough for services, but more the NVR didn't want a third party loco in thousands of pieces taking up room in the workshop with the risk of the overhaul taking many years.

 

Well, they missed a trick there.