The Scottish Locomotive Preservation Trust Fund

The history of the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Trust Fund deserves full publication. Sadly there isn't room here and a few inadequate words here in passing will have to suffice in the meantime.

 Constituted in Glasgow in 1962 as the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Fund it had the aim of preserving as many of Scotland' Pre-Grouping steam locomotives as possible. In 1962 the chill wind of modernisation was sweeping away much of Scotland's locomotive heritage and it was only a few classes of North British Railway mixed traffic locomotives that survived in any number. Representation of the Highland and Great North of Scotland Railways had been reduced to one survivor each. Caledonian Railway locomotives were becoming rare and the remaining survivors were disappearing quickly.

In 1963 after more than a year of fund raising the SLPF recognised that its objective of preserving several locomotives would not be achievable. Time was running out quickly for the surviving Caledonian locomotives and the rate of accumulation of funds was less than had been hoped for. The SLPF accepted that they would have to focus on the purchase of a single locomotive.

After considerable debate the locomotive which was chosen was the 812 class 0-6-0, BR 57566. She was chosen for a number of reasons. She was still in traffic and in reasonable order. She had been built as a passenger locomotive by the Caledonian Railway at St Rollox Works. Most importantly, she was one of the last pure McIntosh locomotives in existence and she carried an example of the famous Dunalastair boiler.

Having made their choice the SLPF formally advised British Railways of their intention to purchase 57566. The locomotive was then still in normal service, based at Ardrossan MPD in Ayrshire. Events moved fairly quickly to a conclusion after the locomotive was withdrawn on August 8th, 1963. With the active help of several members of British Railways Scottish Region who were sympathetic to the SLPF's objectives the locomotive was purchased for the scrap value of £900. Even this wasn't without its problems. By the time the SLPF made a formal purchase offer BR had begun to change its attitude towards the preservation of veteran steam locomotives. Sadly, the new attitude was a very negative one. As a consequence, instead of being able to base the loco on BR premises the SLPF found that it had to remove it from BR as soon as the purchase was complete.

Fortunately short term sanctuary was found in a privately owned siding near Ardrossan at the Ardeer Works of ICI. 57566, now known once again as Caledonian No.828, was removed from Ardrossan MPD to Ardeer and began her wait for a permanent home.