35011 "General Steam Navigation" at WSR Williton

30th November 2007

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Merchant Navy 35011 "General Steam Navigation" is seen newly-arrived at Williton, West Somerset Railway, where she is to enter the works to donate her centre driving wheelset (actually a plain-axled leading wheelset off a Light Pacific) to 34046 "Braunton". 20-odd years in open storage at RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, has not done much for this locomotive...she looks even worse than she did when she came out of Barry scrapyard. Dismal weather completes the sad scene, but with mysterious "contract work" planned for 35011 during her stay, are we about to see the beginnings of a restoration? We can but hope...