RAILWAY enthusiasts are being asked to help pay for £500,000 of repairs to a 73-year-old steam locomotive gifted to the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA).

The WSRA is appealing to the public for £10,000 of crowdfunding to pay for some of the major repairs to the former BR Standard Class 4MT freight locomotive 80064, which it hopes to have in service on the heritage line by 2028.

Built In 1953 in Brighton, 80064 was allocated to the London Midland Region of British Railways, moving to the Southern Region in 1959 and the Western Region, based at Exmouth, in 1963.

The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1963 and sent for scrap to Barry, South Wales, from where it was rescued by a group of enthusiasts and, after restoration, joined the Dart Valley Railway and later the Bluebell Line.

In 2023, in need of a massive rebuild, the engine was given to the WSRA by a steam trust and is now being restored in Williton.

The 80064 is one of 155 locomotives produced between 1951 and 1956.

It was one of the most successful of all the Standard designs built in the 1950s, and on withdrawal, 15 were preserved, the rest being scrapped.

A WSRA spokesperson said: “Locomotives of this type were used on the West Somerset Railway in the past and proved ideal for the challenging gradients and heavy loadings.

“It is planned to use 80064 to replace locomotives currently in service, when they are withdrawn on expiry of their boiler certificates, over the next four years.

“The most popular trains are steam hauled.

“The motive power has been heavily reliant on the home fleet of steam locomotives, 7828 Odney Manor and 9351, the Minehead Mogul, plus hired-in locomotives.

“Both 7828 and 9351 are nearing the end of their current 10-year boiler operational cycle.

“In the next four to five years these locomotives will have steamed for 10 years, after which the boilers must be dismantled and refurbished, which will take several years to complete.

“The cost of restoring 80064 to service is estimated at £500,000.

“The WSRA has some of the finances needed, which have been contributed by our supporters and from legacies.

“These funds will provide £100,000 towards the £500,000 cost.

“We plan to secure an additional £200,000 in grants from charitable trusts and £100,000 through a public appeal, with the final £100,000 being secured through community events.

“Our target is to achieve this by 2028”.

Enthusiasts can follow the restoration journey online on an 80064 blog.

Now, the WSRA is seeking donations to help raise enough money to put 80064 back on the rails.

The spokesperson said, for instance, £25 would pay for 11 crown stays, £50 for 488 rivets, and £100 for 178 patch screws for the firebox.

They estimated that £3,000 would pay for the re-boring of the valves and cylinders, £5000 to paint the locomotive, and £10,000 for re-profiling the tyres.

Donations can be made through the WSRA’s ‘Full Steam Ahead’ Crowdfunding page.