Hopper Restoration

THE CAMPAIGN IS TO RAISE FUNDING TO RESTORE TWO 43 TON HOPPER WAGONS, ONCE OWNED BY ICI AND NOW BY THE STANIER 8F LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY LTD (www.8fsociety.co.uk). THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF CONTRIBUTORS, OUR INITIAL TARGET OF £2400 FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE FIRST WAGON, NUMBER 3252 (TOPS 19052), HAS BEEN REACHED  AND THIS WAGON HAS NOW BEEN RESTORED.

WE STILL NEED TO RAISE FURTHER FUNDING FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE SECOND WAGON, NUMBER 3329 (TOPS 19129).

IT IS EXPECTED THIS WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS, REDUCING THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE SECOND WAGON TO £2000. THIS AMOUNT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL FIGURE TO PRODUCE A REVISED TARGET OF £4400. IF, FOR ANY REASON, THE SOCIETY IS NOT ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE SECOND WAGON, YOUR DONATION WILL BE PUT TOWARDS THE OVERHAUL FUND FOR THE SOCIETY'S LOCOMOTIVE, STANIER 8F NUMBER 48773.

These historically important wagons once formed part of the block limestone trains which ran up to seven times daily between Tunstead and Northwich, revolutionising the transport of bulk limestone. These trains were inextricably linked with the Stanier 8F locomotives and they inspired local railway enthusiasts to preserve not only two of these wagons but also, a Stanier 8F locomotive, 48773.

The two wagons are number 3252 (TOPS 19052), built in 1938 as part of the first of three batches built and number 3329 (TOPS 19129), from the third batch which was built in 1952. The wagons were intensively used and are believed to have accumulated mileages of between 3 and 5 million miles during their working life.