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 61673 'Spirit of Sandringham's mainframe at the Llangollen Railway complete, 24/02/2019. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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61673"Spirit of Sandringham" is anLNER B17 class 4-6-0steam locomotive which is being built by theB17 Steam Locomotive Trust. No originalGresley B17 Class locomotives were preserved, soSpirit of Sandringham is being built as the next member of its class, similarly to60163Tornado.
Construction of 61673 started at the workshops of theLlangollen Railway, but with the closure of the latter's engineering business in 2020, the completed mainframes were moved to the workshops of CTL Seal LTD inSheffield in October 2020.[1][2][3]
Spirit of Sandringham will be completed to mainline standards, being capable of hauling railtours on the UK national network and available to visit heritage railways.[4]
The original B17s were built from 1928 to 1937 with the construction of the seventy-three engines being split between :-North British Locomotive Company,Darlington Works &Robert Stephenson and Company.
By 1960, withdrawal of the class was well underway with only seventeen remaining in service at the start of the year. The final original B17 to be withdrawn was No.61668Bradford City, which was withdrawn in August 1960 and cut up not long after.
The longest working life of a B17 was 31 years by No.61608Gunton & the shortest being 21 years for No.61667Bradford.
It was announced inSteam Railway magazine issue 349, on 1 May 2008 that a group planned to build two B17s (one being a replica of 61662 "Manchester United" while the other would be numbered 61673 and given the name "Spirit of Sandringham").[5][6]
No. 61673's construction was first being undertaken in Llangollen by the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust while the replica engine was being built at a private site by the 61662 appeal. In November 2020 it was announced that the 61662 project was being terminated.
With the cessation of theLlangollen Railway's engineering business in 2020, the frames of 61673 were moved to CTL Seal LTD in Sheffield in October 2020, for construction to continue.[7]