Kimbolton Castle
The Steam Locomotive
The Steam Locomotive
Kimbolton Castle had another claim to fame, it being the name given to a loco built in 1927. The Kimbolton Castle was a B17 4-6-0 locomotive, built for LNER and was one of about 70 in the Class which served both on the Great Central (Marylebone – Manchester) and the Great Eastern (East Anglia) lines until the 1960s. Locomotive ‘Kimbolton Castle’ about 1955 at Crescent Junction, Peterborough, believed emerging from Nene carriage sidings (The Wharf) preparatory to running on the 0938 service from Peterborough East to Lowestoft, which 61633 would work as far as Norwich. (Photo and info. courtesy of Bill Becket)
This locomotive was built in 1931 and entered service on 17 June 1931. It was condemned at March depot on 4 September 1958 and scrapped at Doncaster in October 1958. The total number of B17 class locomotives built was 73 and all were scrapped by the middle of 1960.
The History
The B17 locomotives were designed to meet a requirement for a new express passenger locomotive for use in East Anglia. The design specification was prepared by Sir Nigel Gresley and the locomotives were built over a nine year period from 1928. The first class was named Sandringham after the Royal Family Norfolk Estate and henceforth the whole class were known as “Sandringhams”. There were seventy three locomotives built and all were named after country houses/estates, football clubs and county regiments associated with the routes and geography of the LNER. All locomotives were scrapped by 1960 and none were saved for preservation.
East Anglian Links
Within East Anglia twenty six locomotives were given local names: five each for Suffolk and Essex and sixteen for Norfolk. These names included twenty three country houses, two local regiments and Norwich City Football Club. Oddly Kimbolton was on the ex Midland Railway line from Huntingdon to Kettering, that became part of the LMS. It was somewhere that B17s never went. This locomotive was built in 1931 and entered service on 17 June 1931. It transferred to East Anglia in October 1938 and remained there until the end of its working life. It was withdrawn from service on 4 September 1958 and scrapped at Doncaster in October 1958.
The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust
Established in 2011 as an organisation with charitable trust status the B17SLT is building a full size working example of a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) B17 express passenger locomotive for use on the main line network and heritage railways. The locomotive is to be known as 61673 Spirit of Sandringham. As a charitable trust there are obligations for public benefit so in addition to the prime objective of building a new B17 the B17SLT is undertaking to maintain and develop traditional engineering skills in the UK. This is being achieved by engaging UK firms to manufacture the locomotive and to provide education and skills training for people in apprenticeships and other schemes associated with engineering, science and technology.
Project Status
The new build locomotive is being designed and manufactured by UK companies and individuals with the necessary specialist capability. When parts are manufactured they are then delivered to The Llangollen Railway Engineering Services workshops for assembly. To date all framework parts for the static chassis have been manufactured, delivered to Llangollen and assembled. The next task is to complete the design and manufacture of all the components such as wheels, tyres, axles and bearings required (to develop the static chassis into a rolling chassis) and the boiler and firebox.
Can you help?
Through this article, the Trust are looking to expand our local knowledge of the history and geography associated with the naming of Kimbolton Castle.
The B17 SLT would welcome assistance to achieve their aim to recreate this East Anglian railway icon.
If you are able to support this scheme in any way, please contact The Trust:-
Email: b17slt@googlegroups.com
Tel: 07527 670436
Write to: B17 SLT, c/o 171 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds SG17 5AG
For more information please visit www.b17steamloco.com
©2024. Kimbolton & Stonely Parish Council. All Rights Reserved.