Special offer for New Members of 71000

71000 (Duke of Gloucester) Steam Locomotive Trust is the organisation responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of 71000 with the specific objective of operating the locomotive on mainline charters and preserved railways.

The Duke was rescued from a scrapyard in South Wales and after a 13 year restoration returned to the mainline in 1990. Now in her second 10 year ticket the next expensive heavy overhaul is due in 2014.

We cordially invite you to join us as a member of the trust to help keep the dream alive. There are a range of benefits on offer to 71000 members which if taken up more than pay for your subscription. On offer are reduced priced 71000 DVDs, discounts off mainline tours, members open days with free travel as well as newsletters and frequent updates. Membership also gives you the opportunity of being closer to the Duke by being able to work with our support crew as a volunteer.

Standard membership is just £15 per year whilst the friends of 71000 starts from £5 per month.

All applications received before 31st August 2011 will receive a FREE 71000 magnetised book mark currently on offer at our eBay shop at £2.50. To qualify please write "71000 Blog Offer” on your membership application.

For further details please contact our membership secretary:

Chris Hazzleton on 01925 650875 or email chris.hazzleton@ntlworld.com
4 Ridgebourne Close
Callands
Warrington
WA5 9YB

Alternatively please click here to go to the membership section of the website to access further information and to download the appropriate forms.

We very much look forward to welcoming you as a member of the trust in the very near future.

The 71000 Trust

71000 at WSR

71000 at the West Somerset Railway in glorious conditions on July 23rd.

Locomotive update

On Wednesday 20th July, 71000 Duke of Gloucester and POB were towed in light steam with a DBS class 66 diesel from Bristol Barton Hill depot (via Westbury) to Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway. During the move 71000 was tested under load and no problems found. Further testing was carried out with light engine running between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren and the locomotive found to be in sound working order.

On Saturday 23rd July the Duke entered service on the West Somerset Railway and will haul trains daily up to and including Friday 29th July. Early indications confirm the locomotive to be in good working order. Depending on outcomes from this running-in period, the length of stay at WSR will be reviewed. It is hoped that 71000 will return in August to complete main line commitments with Torbay Express Limited and Pathfinder Tours. The cause of 71000’s failure on 12th June whilst hauling the Torbay Express remains under investigation.

David Briggs
Chairman, Phoenix Heritage Rail Ltd

WSR timetable

The timetable for passenger services on the West Somerset Railway is available to view here.  The Duke will be running between 23rd and 29th July inclusive.

71000 passenger services on West Somerset Railway

You can now check out the details of the passenger services hauled by the Duke on the West Somerset Railway for the week commencing 23rd July.

WSR General Manager Paul Conibeare said:

This will be the third time that 71000 has worked passenger trains on the West Somerset and we hope that many people will take the opportunity to ride behind this historic locomotive and to visit the attractions of Taunton Deane and West Somerset at the start of the main holiday season.