PLANS to restore and exhibit a set of historic steam locomotives have been announced in Barry this week by The Cambrian Group, the new operators and custodians of the Barry Rail Centre.

The ‘Barry 10’ were the last of the steam locomotives remaining at Dai Woodham’s historic Barry Scrapyard to await restoration.

Cambrian Group Chairman, John Buxton, said: "The exciting plans are the culmination of over ten years of work undertaken by Cambrian with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to secure a future for them, ensuring they continue to be available to future generations to understand our railway heritage."

Vale Council cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, Cllr Rhodri Traherne said: "These locomotives are an important symbol of Barry’s contribution to our industrial history. "These plans will mean that the locomotives continue to be a source of pride for the people of Barry, both accessible to enjoy when they are operated in Barry, and to act as ambassadors for the town across the country."

The event also celebrated the plans that The Cambrian Group has for the Barry Rail Centre and for the Barry Tourist Railway, previously operated as Barry Island Railway, which is now fully operational again under its new custodian Cambrian Transport Ltd.

Newly-appointed Barry Rail Centre managing director, Dr Mark Lang said he is delighted that much of the restoration work on the locomotives and tenders will be undertaken at the Barry Rail Centre. "As a result, employment and skills training opportunities will be directly accessible to local people," he said.

"We are also going to ensure that as much public access is available to view the restoration projects as they progress over the next few years.

"This runs alongside our development plans to create a centre for engineering and training excellence at the Barry Rail Centre, as well as the progressive improvement for services and facilities available to visitors of the Barry Tourist Railway, including a café at the Barry Island Station Buildings that we intend to open soon."

Welsh Assembly Government minister for Budget and Business and Vale AM, Jane Hutt AM, said: "It is clear that the restoration projects on these locomotives will go some way to helping to preserve our history for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

"I am particularly pleased that training, employment and volunteering opportunities will arise from the work to be undertaken at Barry, which will be accessible to local people."

THE BARRY 10 COLLECTION:

THE Barry 10 collection comprises the following locomotives that were among the last saved from Barry’s famous Woodham’s Scrapyard in 1988. They include:

* No 2861 Great Western 2-8-0 Tender Locomotive constructed in 1918

* No 4115 Great Western 2-6-2 Tank Locomotive constructed in 1936

* No 5227 Great Western 2-8-0 Tank Locomotive constructed in 1924

* No 5539 Great Western 2-6-2 Tank Locomotive constructed in 1924

* No 6686 Great Western 0-6-2 Tank Locomotive constructed in 1928

* No 7927 Great Western 4-6-0 Tender Locomotive constructed in 1950

* No 44901 London Midland Railway 4-6-0 Tender Locomotive constructed in 1945

* No 48518 London Midland Railway 2-8-0 Tender Locomotive constructed in 1944

* No 80150 British Railways 2-6-4 Standard Tank Locomotive constructed in 1956

* No 92245 British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Tender Locomotive constructed in 1928

* Two tenders were also saved: a Fowler Midland and a Great Western 3500 gallon.

THE JOURNEY HOME

THE engines were moved from Barry to Bute Road in Cardiff, then passed into the care of the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff County Council following local government re-organisation in 1996.

The group of locos returned to Barry, firstly to a secure warehouse and latterly to the old Steam Locomotive Shed that today forms the centrepiece of the Barry Rail Centre.

Soon after the locomotives returned to Barry, the ‘Barry 10’ became ‘11’, when in 1989 another Great Western 2-6-2 Tank Locomotive, No. 5538, which was still at Barry, was added to the collection.

This loco had been cosmetically restored and for many years was exhibited on the promenade at Barry Island. However after years of exposure to the sea air, its condition was deteriorating and so it too was moved and put under safe covered storage with the other engines.

The term ‘The Barry 10’ remained.

Two other locomotives are to be retained at Barry for use and display at the Barry Rail Centre. Great Western 0-6-2 Tank locomotive No. 6686 is to be restored for use on the Barry Island Railway by the new operators of the line, Cambrian Transport Ltd.

In addition, the LMS Class 5 Tender locomotive No. 44901 is also to be retained at Barry for display in the proposed museum at the Barry Rail Centre. In time, it may be restored to working order, as may the remains of the LMS 8f loco 48518, which is to return to Barry also, but this depends on the procurement of parts, as both locos have been heavily stripped.

The two tenders also form an important part of the projects. The Great Western 3500 gallon tender will be restored for use behind the 4-4-0 County Tender locomotive.

The Fowler Midland tender is to be retained at Barry and restored by Cambrian Transport Ltd. Following restoration it will be put on indefinIte loan to the Patriot Project which is progressing well with a new build National Memorial 4-6-0 Locomotive, to be known as ‘The Unknown Warrior’.