We are currently concluding arrangements with the Severn Valley Railway to send Dunrobin directly from Liverpool (where it will disembark the ship) to Bridgenorth on the SVR where it will be dismantled to enable a full survey of its condition to take place. This will commence some time in late May. The coach, 58A, will come directly to Beamish where a survey will take place regarding a return to operation in the shorter term. It’s layout lends itself to enhanced access for wheelchair users so it will be a great asset to Beamish.

Beyond the survey, we will have to find funding to overhaul Dunrobin – at which point it will have already stood us at a considerable sum of money – is there anyone out there who would like to speed the process along with a sizable cheque?!

I would still like to think that a return to steam for 2013 is possible, at which point we can formally launch the engine into traffic. Obviously there are many variables to this, including, of course, getting it back to the UK!

As ever the latest (and definitive) news will appear on this blog. These are certainly exciting times!