Knave's Blade Locomotive Club
The Knave's Blade Locomotive Club is a Railway Preservation Group in Etorea founded in 1963. They were formed during a friday night meeting between four friends who had dreams of saving a steam locomotive from scrap, the group took its name from the pub that it was formed in; The Knave's Blade Inn.
The club was officially created after two months of meetings on friday nights on 2nd May 1963. The then oldest member, Alexander Blackman became the leader, Bruce Wilson became secretary, John Keegan became the treasurer and William Fisher became the Chief Fundraiser. The group toured scrapyards, locomotive sheds and industrial sites in their free time until they found a locomotive for sale that was in reasonable condition. The club also purchased the closed Cordoon Road Station with the intention of forming a small museum to house artifacts from the defunct Great Northern & Southern Railway. The club purchased a small house near to the station to use as their club hq-quaters.
The Purchase of a Locomotive:
The group had raised nearly ℳ︁1000 by November 1963, allowing for the purchase of a small locomotive that was not quite scrap value. Around this time club member Terrance Harding got a job as a locomotive driver at Shottesbrooke Colliery, it was here that he found an Avonside 0-6-0ST at the back of the locomotive shed sitting out of use. He brought this up to the other club members on 27th November 1963. The next monday a deal had been arranged between the Club and the United Coke & Coal Board for the purchase of Shottesbrooke Colliery's locomotive "Dreadnought". She arrived at Cordoon Road Station in January 1964 with the club quickly restoring her and repainting her into GN&SR livery. Her nameplates were removed and placed in storage at the station, having been replaced with the "G . N & S . R" lettering, the initials of the club were also written on the side of the cab above the builder's plates.
The club was officially created after two months of meetings on friday nights on 2nd May 1963. The then oldest member, Alexander Blackman became the leader, Bruce Wilson became secretary, John Keegan became the treasurer and William Fisher became the Chief Fundraiser. The group toured scrapyards, locomotive sheds and industrial sites in their free time until they found a locomotive for sale that was in reasonable condition. The club also purchased the closed Cordoon Road Station with the intention of forming a small museum to house artifacts from the defunct Great Northern & Southern Railway. The club purchased a small house near to the station to use as their club hq-quaters.
The Purchase of a Locomotive:
The group had raised nearly ℳ︁1000 by November 1963, allowing for the purchase of a small locomotive that was not quite scrap value. Around this time club member Terrance Harding got a job as a locomotive driver at Shottesbrooke Colliery, it was here that he found an Avonside 0-6-0ST at the back of the locomotive shed sitting out of use. He brought this up to the other club members on 27th November 1963. The next monday a deal had been arranged between the Club and the United Coke & Coal Board for the purchase of Shottesbrooke Colliery's locomotive "Dreadnought". She arrived at Cordoon Road Station in January 1964 with the club quickly restoring her and repainting her into GN&SR livery. Her nameplates were removed and placed in storage at the station, having been replaced with the "G . N & S . R" lettering, the initials of the club were also written on the side of the cab above the builder's plates.
Founding Date
2nd May 1963
Type
Social, Group
Leader
Location
Controlled Territories
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