A LOCO that has been in the Forest since 1986 is under threat of permanent redundancy if the Coleford Great Western Railway Museum can’t raise £50,000.

Museum curator, Mike Rees says Peckett 0-4-0ST loco no 1893 could become the ‘ghost train’. It is currently housed in the ‘shed’ at the Old Railway Station in Railway Drive.

It was steamed for potentially the last time on Saturday in conjunction with a book signing by local author Neil Parkhouse of his new volume Forest of Dean Lines and the Severn Bridge.

Mike said: “The steam went very well. All my family was present and we had a ride on the miniature train called Maude, which is the name of my late mother. We are applying for grants to cover the costs of an annual MOT, which is £50,000, but if we can’t then we are at risk of it becoming a ghost train.

“Every ten years the engine needs a thorough boiler examination which involves stripping out the boiler and tubes – it’s a costly job and the dangers associated can be devastating if it isn’t done correctly. We hope to hear what is going to happen by Christmas.

“The insurance company kindly allowed us to steam for what possibly could be the last time on Saturday.”

The engine was built in 1936 and arrived at the Coleford Great Western Railway Museum in 1986 from the Ironbridge power station in Shropshire, after previously working at Stourport-on-Severn.

Mike added: “The engine was registered with the Great Western Railway in 1936 and was kept up to their standards. It’s a remarkable locomotive.”

• A FURTHER 17 copies of Forest of Dean Lines and the Severn Bridge by Neil Parkhouse was sold on Saturday.

This brings the total sale to almost 80.

Neil said: “The day was excellent. Mike had more visitors than he’d had for a while and a couple of old railwaymen came along as well, including Graham Morgan, who was the fireman of the last train over the Severn Bridge. A goods train which crossed about five minutes before the barges brought the span down. His driver on that evening, Donald Powell, is pictured in the book.”