Steam train parts stolen from Great Central Railway worth £50,000

Great Central Railway says thieves have stolen about £50,000 worth of steam locomotive parts from its site.

They broke into a storage container in Warners Way, Loughborough, between the hours of 11.30pm and 3.30am on Friday, 1 July.

The parts included copper piping, steam boiler valves and fittings. 

Most of the parts are for one locomotive, Boscastle, owned by Boscastle Locomotive Ltd, which is currently undergoing a major restoration in the workshops of the Great Central Railway. The parts have little value as scrap, the railway says. Rather, the restoration of steam locomotives requires most of the parts to be manufactured for that restoration, requiring highly skilled engineers to carry out the works.

A spokesperson said: “The team carrying out the restoration are devastated with the theft after all the long hours they have put in manufacturing the parts. The police have attended the site, and we are currently awaiting any information from them.”

Anyone with information should contact Leicestershire Police and quote reference 22*380041.

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