Super Prize Draw and £100,000 appeal launched for 'Battle of Britain' class no. 34072 257 Squadron's new boiler and overhaul

Announcement from Alan Maynard
Fundraising Officer, Swanage Railway.

No. 34072 257 Squadron at Corfe Castle - photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

The Swanage Railway is holding a major fundraising Prize Draw to help to raise £100,000 to assist in the restoration of their ‘Battle of Britain’ Class unrebuilt light Pacific 257 Squadron. In order to get back into steam, 257 Squadron will need a new boiler and a complete overhaul.

The first prize will be a brand new car, and over thirty prizes are on offer donated from national, as well as local, businesses. Other prizes include two tickets to the Channel Islands on Condor Ferries. Prize Draw tickets will cost £1 each and will go on sale on February 14th . Ticket sales will close October 31st and the draw will be made on November 20th at Swanage Station. Tickets will be available for order on-line from 14th February via the dedicated page on the Swanage Railway website.

257 Squadron was built at Brighton in 1948 and spent most of her career based at Dover. She was withdrawn from service 1964 and spent until 1984 languishing at Barry scrapyard. Purchased by a group of enthusiasts, she was overhauled at Swindon Works and came out in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain celebrations in 1990. After touring heritage railways around the country, she moved permanently to the Swanage Railway in 1991. Her boiler certificate finally expired in January 2003 and she was withdrawn from service.

Promoter Mick Hatton, who is also a volunteer fireman on the railway, said, "This is a great way for the public to get involved in an important heritage railway preservation project, regardless of whether they are steam fans or not. Spending a pound to win a car is an attractive proposition."

If the raffle is sucessful, it is planned to have the loco back on Swanage Railway metals in 2008.

257 Squadron was built at Brighton in 1948 and spent most of her career based at Dover. She was withdrawn from service 1964 and spent until 1984 languishing at Barry scrapyard. Purchased by a group of enthusiasts, she was overhauled at Swindon Works and came out in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain celebrations in 1990. After touring heritage railways around the country, she moved permanently to the Swanage Railway in 1991. Her boiler certificate finally expired in January 2003 and she was withdrawn from service.

Only 9 out of the original 44 'Battle of Britain' Class locos survive and only 3 remain in steam.

You can find full details of the raffle and more information and photographs of 257 Squadron by following this link to our dedicated page. Or call the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 or send an email to general@swanrail.freeserve.co.uk