The762 Club

The 762 Club is delighted to announce the award of the boiler build and commission contract for new build Manning Wardle locomotives YEO and EXE to Israel Newton & Sons Ltd.

Physical construction of the first boiler (YEO) will be in 2026 with a 12-month construction time and the second boiler (EXE) will be completed in a 9 month construction time immediately following. Manufacturing both boilers will enable economies of scale to be realised in component manufacture.

Israel Newton manufactured the boiler for locomotive LYD which runs on the F&WHR and visits North Devon periodically.

Several design enhancements are proposed for the two new boilers these having been discussed and provisionally agreed between the 762 Club, the FFWHR based upon their experience of operating LYD and with Israel Newton.

The 762 Club has now placed a technical evaluation order with BES Ltd to certificate that the enhanced design and construction meet the requisite regulations and design codes.

Placing the order with Israel Newton marks a significant step forward in the advancement of both the YEO and EXE project. John Eastwood General Manager Israel Newton commented “Israel Newton is delighted to build on our links with the team that created LYD by working with the 762 Club and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway on the manufacture of boilers for new-build projects YEO and EXE”.

A significant number of items for both YEO and EXE have already been manufactured and machined including, cylinders (for YEO & EXE, and castings for TAW and LEW), driving and pony wheels, flycranks, stretchers, hornblocks, axleboxes equating to just under a £300,000 investment to date. Our original budget for each locomotive was £500,000 and current projections anticipate we will be ‘on budget’.

The 762 Club’s first locomotive LYN has proven to be a significant success and attraction for the Lynton and Barnstaple railway, bringing an ‘original’ L&B locomotive back to the railway. The Manning Wardle locomotives YEO, EXE, TAW and LEW are iconic to the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway and a number of people at that time wanted to see our own Manning Wardle in creation. Now is YOUR chance to make it happen!

It is now critical to raise the funding to purchase these boilers and continue other machining. A rolling chassis is needed to receive the first boiler when it arrives. The more funds we can raise the faster we can proceed. If you are able to support or continue to support financially, please do help us. You can do this by joining the 762 Club, sponsoring a component, simple donations or setting up a regular standing order – every penny really does count.

To donate please contact Jon Pain ([email protected]) or simply make a donation or set-up a standing order to The 762 Club at Lloyds bank. Sort code 30-90-78 Account 29610160. If you are able to Gift Aid please confirm to Jon Pain. Cheques (made payable to The 762 Club) can also be sent to The 762 Club, 26 Oaklands, Bideford, EX39 3HW.