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THE STANDARD STEAM LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY LIMITED (SSLC), building 72010 'HENGIST', is pleased to announce the appointment of David Buck as its new Patron.
A lifelong rail enthusiast and entrepreneur, Mr Buck brings many years of experience in business and in particular the heritage rail industry to THE 'CLAN' PROJECT, which is constructing Standard Class 6 locomotive 'HENGIST', the 1000th British Railways Standard locomotive, in partnership with engineering firm CTL Seal in Ecclesfield in Sheffield.
Mr Buck has become a well-known figure in the British railway preservation scene in recent years. After a successful career in the film and television industry, he bought several historic locomotives, including former LNER B1 Class locomotive 61306 'Mayflower' in 2014, restoring it to running railtours on the national network for the first time in 40 years.
This was followed in 2018 by acquiring the Steam Dreams Rail Company, one of Britain's most successful railtour promoters. In addition to this, he has taken on other roles in the heritage industry, such as acting as Vice President of the Friends of the National Railway Museum (NRM), South of England Group, and as a Patron of the Science Museum, the NRM, the London Transport Museum and the British Postal Museum.
He has also built a half-mile-long railway in his garden near Windsor, on which he runs his own locomotives, and is an avid collector of railwayana, including historic locomotive nameplates.
Mr Buck said:
"Standard Pacific locomotives have always been one of my favourite classes and I couldn't be more delighted to be involved in the creation of the missing link – a new 'Clan'."
James Baldwin, President of the SSLC, said:
"I'm delighted to welcome David to THE 'CLAN' PROJECT. We are privileged to benefit from his experience in the heritage rail industry, and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming years as we progress towards our goal of seeing 'HENGIST' in steam, pulling its first train."
Mr Buck is THE 'CLAN' PROJECT's second patron, following the late Sir William McAlpine, the former owner of 'Flying Scotsman', who acted as the project's patron until his death in 2018.
You can find out more about the project on this web site. |