A steam locomotive is set to become the latest restoration project at The National Railway Museum in Shildon, County Durham.
The work will include the renovation of the industrial locomotive Conway, which was first built by Kitson and Company, of Leeds, in 1933. As the old steam locomotive arrives, there is a departure of a South Railway parcel van S2464S which was responsible for carrying the coffin of former British prime minister Winston Churchill from St Paul's Cathedral, London to his final resting place in Oxfordshire in 1965.
Shildon forms the second part of The National Railway Museum with the main site being situated in the centre of York. The north-east site houses some famous steam engines and celebrates the region's love of railways which played a major role in mining and other industry-related tasks.
The Northern Echo reports that the Conway will arrive at Shildon on Wednesday (January 14th) where volunteers will begin the restoration programme. Among the improvements set to be made to the engine are the new steelwork, replacement nameplates, new windows and a total repaint ensuring that it is ready to put on display.
Officials have already earmarked this work as being a long-term project with volunteers expecting it to take a number of years to complete. It is not known yet when the public will be able to view the finished locomotive.
Winston Churchill's carriage will be leaving Shildon as the Conway arrives. The iconic parcel van will make its way south to be displayed at York's National Railway Museum. There it will team up with the Shildon locomotive known as the Winston Churchill which was tasked with pulling the funeral train.
It will form a very special display at the York site entitled 'The Churchill Final Journey'. It will become the newest attraction to the popular tourist site running from January 30th to May 3rd 2015.