Railway Gala Weekend - 2013
2013's Gala Weekend was all about we celebrating Polar Bear's return to service after a 3 year refit. Apart from a few minor teething problems which were soon ironed out, Polar Bear has given good service since then.
At a ceremony during last year's (2013) Railway Gala Weekend Nicholas Owen, BBC News presenter, journalist and railway enthusiast, welcomed Polar Bear back into service. Polar Bear has just undergone extensive boiler repairs and a thorough mechanical overhaul which have taken almost 3 years to complete. This project was funded by donations from the volunteers and some generous Museum supporters.
Click on the photograph for a video of the event, including the ceremonial banner breaking, with Nicholas at the regulator.
The recently completed restoration of Orenstein & Koppel diesel OK4013/1930, owned by Harry Elliott, was also be marked by a naming ceremony.
Harry purchased the locomotive from Durley, the former Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway's site, in early 2011 and has spent two years, with the help of several other Amberley volunteers, restoring it back to almost as new condition. Here we see 4013 on some test runs at the Museum in March and April 2013.
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