A UK charity raising money to build a memorial steam locomotive has reached the £1 million mark in the Centenary year of the First World War.
The LMS-Patriot Company says it hit the figure on November 11th 2014, the 96th anniversary of the Armistice. But another £500,000 is still needed.
Construction of The Unknown Warrior is taking place at Llangollen Railway Works in North Wales, where engineers paused to observe a minute’s silence on Armistice Day.
The aim is for the engine to serve as a permanent memorial to all those who fought and died in the First World War and all subsequent conflicts, running on both the UK mainline and heritage railways.
If the current rate of progress continues, The Unknown Warrior’ will be in steam for 2017, ready to commemorate the centenary of the end of The Great War in 2018.
But the LMS-Patriot Company, launched in 2008, is appealing for more donations to ensure the target is met.
Chairman David Bradshaw said: “The first million raised is a fantastic achievement, but we still have a long way to go to build The Unknown Warrior’.
“Over half a million pounds still needs to be raised to complete the new ‘Patriot’ 4-6-0 locomotive. At the current rate of fundraising, I am confident we can achieve this but I urge anybody who has not yet donated, to come and support this fantastic project”.
The memorial engine is endorsed by the Royal British Legion, the forces’ welfare charity, and will carry the Legion’s crest above its nameplates.
More information about the project, and how to donate, can be found here.
Source: LMS-Patriot Company
Photos courtesy of Tom Peacock
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News