Rail operator launches crowdfunding campaign to rebuild classic train units
Varamis Rail has launched a crowdfunding campaign to rebuild units from the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (BRCW).
The original BRCW ran from 1854 to 1963. Initially, they rented wagons to private users on the rapidly growing rail network.
The company gained such an enviable reputation for the quality of their products that they were asked to build coaches for heads of state around the world. Most notable of those customers were Queen Victoria, the King of Egypt, Juan and Eva Peron of Evita fame in Argentina and the President of Brazil.
After going into administration, the new BRCW started in 2014 as a not for profit enterprise with the aims of creating a museum to celebrate the history of the original company and to build replicas of prototype diesel locomotives and multiple units that were lost to the scrapman.
Current lead project is Project 210, building a new Class 210 diesel unit built in the early 1980s as a prototype for a new generation of trains to take over from the 1950s and 60s vintage units running around the country at that time.
Last year the unique Paxman 6RP200L engine used in the inner suburban type unit was secured from the Anson Engine Museum in Manchester.
An agreement was also reached to secure the sole surviving Class 210 coach in mainline service as part of a Class 455 electric unit out of London Waterloo, along with two driving trailers which are as close to the correct layout.
The only other units to use these coaches were Class 317 units built at the same time for the London St Pancras to Bedford electrification scheme. These trains have now been retired and very few still exist with the final examples ready to go to the scrapyard by May.
An agreement was also reached to secure the sole surviving Class 210 coach in mainline service as part of a Class 455 electric unit out of London Waterloo, along with two driving trailers which are as close to the correct layout.
Another agreement has been reached to purchase the final coach, but funds are still needed to make sure it can be stored securely until a home to do the work is found.
A crowdfunder has been launched on the Just Giving website, for people to donate. For those who want to get more involved there are pages on Facebook and twitter.
If you want to get involved, or even have somewhere the coach can be stored, get in touch through social media or email simon@brcw.co