The Churnet Valley Railway is the new base for partially restored Class 20.
Another Class 20 entered preservation in December when No. D8057, which had been offered for sale by Michael Owen back in the autumn, was sold to a group at the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire. The English Electric Type 1 was moved to its new home from Butterley in early December.
It is over 20 years since No. 20057, as it was then numbered, last ran. Taken out of BR traffic in 1993, it was initially disposed of to HNRC and then to DRS as part of its spares/reserve fleet, being placed in store at Smalmstown, near Carlisle. It was sold back to HNRC in 2006 and moved to Long Marston, then later Barrow Hill, before being resold to Michael Owen.
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Upon arrival at Butterley, work began on returning it to working order, with a view to main line operation alongside Nos. 20142/189/205. However, with demand for Class 20s having reduced in recent years, the decision was taken to sell the loco.
During its spell at Butterley from 2013 to 2016, the loco received bodywork repairs and was repainted green as No. D8057. The cabs were stripped but require rebuilding and, unsurprisingly given the length of time it has been out of action, there is a considerable amount of other work required before the ‘Chopper’ can work again.
Read more News in February’s issue of Rail Express – out now!
