2014 News

15 November – Paul Hibberd gave details of progress to the 25th Annual Crewe Luncheon. “The George Army is growing day by day. We’re keen to form local connections in Crewe, so I’m appealing for introductions to local organisations.” He concluded, “The future is BLACK!”

November Steam Railway (issue 433) article ‘A new ‘George’ in TEN years?

September L&NWRS Newsletter report – We have started making significant pieces of the locomotive with the unveiling of the large cabside pieces at Quorn (GCR).

2 August – Report by Tony Gillam to the L&NWRS 41st anniversary Meeting at Kidderminster of a presentation by Paul Hibberd and Tom Mainprize:

I was able to sit in on the 1pm talk about the ‘George the Fifth Project’. Brian Hayes welcomed Paul Hibberd (one of the original directors of the project) and Tom Mainprize, but stressed for the LNWRS members that the quest to build ‘a big model’ was financially totally independent of the LNWRS.

The unique project proposition is that this is a pre-First World War design for the mainline. The class had the highest HP output per ton weight of any loco on the WCML up until the end of steam. So it ought to be able to haul an economic load on tours. The smokebox door was started in 2013, as a physical embodiment of the LNWR essence. The front frames are on order (from the front buffer beam to just in from of the driving wheels) strengthened from the original 25.4mm to 30mm. There has been one enormous piece of luck, the that the Cambridges named their first born GEORGE and they agreed to the loco being named @PRINCE GEORGE’, so long as this was done “after he attains his first birthday”. The plates have subsequently been fitted to the cabside plating and look superb.

“The National Lottery won’t touch new-builds, but we use Gift Aid and have (private) 100% match funding for what we do raise.” A lot of help has been offered by other groups. The SLS managers of the model ‘Orion’ have offered to help with the Joy valve gear. There is a lot of debate about the inside axle bearing (removed in their later lives), but “we are firmly of the view that the carrying structure was very important to the frame integrity, whether or not we fit the bearing. We need a reliable and faithful George!” The presentation wrapped up on time at 2pm.

22 July  – prince george poster 

See also – http://royalcentral.co.uk/cambridges/new-locomotive-engine-named-after-prince-george-34936

8 April – Minutes of AGM:

Present: Derek Buckles, Paul Hibberd, Bruce Nixon.

The financial situation as at the year end (31 January) was considered. The situation was duly noted and the meeting closed.

March L&NWRS Newsletter- Chairman’s comments:

‘The last committee meeting agreed that because of the close synergy which existed  between the ‘New Build George V Group’ they will be able to use this newsletter to report progress. They will have the support of the Society by being affiliated to the L&NWRS, while still maintaining their independence. Some of our younger members are very enthusiastic about the ‘George V New Build’, which is viewed as a ‘full size model’. This is why it is essential that the two societies work in close collaboration, whilst maintaining their own organisation for construction and fundraising.’