Manchester United - the locomotive - to be rebuilt in new £1.8-million scheme

Around two million supporters of Manchester United across the world are to be asked to contribute to a £1.8-million project to recreate scrapped LNER B17 4-6-0 No. 61662 Manchester United, it has been announced.

The full story is now live at The complete steam news magazine Heritage Railway Magazine

 

I thought a B17 Sandringham Project was already underway now based at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Is this a new scheme or a re-launch of the same? From the linked article it appears to be a new scheme!
I would think that many Manchester United supporters are far more concerned about the ownership issues of the Club (Green and Gold will never be sold, etc) rather than recreating a MUFC "puffer train", no disrespect to either supporters or locomotive but finances are an issue for all clubs and supporters, no matter how wealthy.

 

Mentioned this to a colleague of mine who supports Man Ure and has more than a passing interest in steam and his reply was, "we are successful enough without having an engine named after the team." I think he's missing the point somehow.

 

Are the two million Manchester United fans going to want it painted red?

 

Of course, lined out in black and white , sounds like a good idea, then it could double as James at Thomas events...

 

I can see that we have reached the important bit now. The colour.

 

Does manchester united football club know about this ? (I don't see any reference to liaison or cooperation with the club ?)

 

A very good obsrvation there. Branding means a great deal to any organisation, but especially to professional football clubs which have the kudos (that isn't the name of a B1 is it?) that Man Utd has. I'm sure that the Club will be very interested (and not necessarily for copyright reasons) if it hasn't been engaged already.

 

Oh really????

Don't tell me the J39 Group are providing consultancy services with regard to financial and engineering planning and it will treble-head with the other two that are being built.

In other news today the Titanic steamed into Southampton towing the Costa Concordia and HMS Hood. Captain Shettino has now been promoted to Rear Admiral of the Italian merchant fleet due to services rendered to the art of navigation whilst flirting with a ropey blonde and not telling fibs was at the helm...

 

Actually I take that back...

it's on Man Utd's official website for 2 weeks now !!!!

I guess they have tapped into a unique market for funds.. as there appears to be no Railway Enthusiast Man United fans ... at least of the forum here.

Project launched to restore Manchester United steam train - Official Manchester United Website

Usual errors... it's a train not a locomotive, and apparently it already exists as the locomotive is to be overhauled not rebuilt.

 

Reading the article it looks like a separate scheme but related to the existing project.... there's an awful lot of supposition going on such as borrowing patterns from the A1SLT and sharing patterns and drawings with the Sandringham project. Is there really room for two schemes?

Foxy

 

if there's room in the market for 2 P2s.. there's room in the market for 2 of anything.

I hear Man United will have a revolving numberplate so when it slips to a stand it can be reverted to Manchester City.

 

Anyone who dares to call a B17 THAT will never have my support im afraid.

 

It keeps saying to restore the engine as if it exists ,and where do they get the price of £1.8 million to build it from.

 

They have a tender.. and so does the Patriot.. therefore it must be £1.8mn as well? :dance:

 

It's somewhat contentious IMHO. Call it Tottenham Hotspur and they can have as much as I can afford. Call in Arsenal and................ you can probably guess the rest.

 

Bit of advice - Don't go looking for Man Utd. fans in Manchester.

Bob.

 

It would appear that there are now two separate schemes:

- the B17 trust (Home) which will build a loco and use a GER tender to represent a Sandringham loco and it will also use an LNER tender to represent a Footballer loco.

- the engine 61662 appeal (Engine 61662 Appeal - Home Page) which will build a loco with an LNER tender to represent a Footballer loco (Man. Utd.)

I suspect that there has been disagreement within the original group and that has led to the 2 groups being formed. Both groups are also showing the LNER tender on their websites, so there may be problems there!

It will be interesting to see how these groups work together and how the tender issue is resolved! The fundraising should be interesting as I don't think the previous scheme managed to raise very much in 4 years of trying (based on actual metal cut/progress reported)


Keith

 

Fair enough, I was thinking about this this morning.. i.e. using the Man U fanbase to fund the loco, afterall how much did someone just spend on the nameplate from the original?

Football clubs and their supporters are like tribes, by choosing Manchester United they've gone for one of the biggest and most successful. Should they have everything in place in terms of engineering skills, fundraising expertise and so forth then this could/should be a successful project. However I do wonder how the club will react when "their" loco is outshopped in green with gold lettering...

As for the NBLPG are these not the fellows that do a pretty good job at importing old british built locos from across the world? I'm sure they could set up a new build project.

Edit to add they are making the right noises on their website:

 

2 million Man Utd fans - £1.8million needed. If they all donated just £1 the target would easily be met. If only it were that simple - I doubt even a small fraction of Man Utd fans will dip into their pockets for this.

As a side point could this be where the nameplate that was recently sold at auction is going?