Robert Heath No.6 Appeal

This appeal is raising money in aid of the restoration of steam locomotive Robert Heath No.6, on behalf of the NSR Rolling Stock Restoration Trust (The Knotty Trust: https://knottycoachtrust.org.uk/) , for operation at the Foxfield Steam Railway at Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent . 

The Trust set a initial appeal target of £20,000 for the early stages of the restoration ,and through a combination of this GoFundMe  Appeal and ring -fenced funds of £12,900 (included in the fundraiser total as an offline amount)  this target has been achieved. We would like to thank everyone who has supported the Appeal to date and the Appeal remains open as the Trust continues to raise funds towards the restoration.

The locomotive, known affectionately as 'Old Mr Heath' , was built in 1886 at Biddulph , North Staffordshire by local ironmaster Robert Heath for use at the company's ironworks and collieries at Norton & Biddulph , and is the last surviving locomotive from that builder.

In 1969 No.6 moved into preservation at Shugborough Hall, and in 1986 was restored for its centenary use at the National Garden Festival in Stoke-on-Trent and then Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum. After closure of the Mining museum , in 1994 No6 moved to the Foxfield Steam Railway where it operated until 2008 when withdrawn for overhaul.

The Trust took ownership of No.6 in March 2020. When fully restored to working order the Trust plan to use the locomotive to haul the NSR Heritage Train based on the Foxfield Railway.

Every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this project.

Photo by Robin Stewart-Smith shows No.6 at Caverswall Road on the Foxfield Railway in 1994. 

Video by Ben Wiles.