Restored locomotive unveiled at station for 2012

Image courtesy of the B.B.C.

Restored locomotive unveiled at station for 2012

Back in July 2010 I did a blog post about Robert the little steam engine, who was discovered in a sorry state by the contractors who were rebuilding Stratford station outside London for the 2012 Olympics, and who thankfully rather than being sent to the scrapheap was instead sent to my local heritage railway museum for restoration.

Now the work has been completed and Robert has been moved back to Stratford station where he will form part of a wonderful display for all those who will come to the Olympics by train, not to mention the commuters and general visitors who pass through the station on a daily basis.

I said it before but I am delighted that the Olympic Committee saw it fit to not only to keep Robert at Stratford but to restore him to his former glory and make him a centrepiece of the new station.  It shows a rare appreciation of the heritage of not just this country's transportation system but the local area's too and creates a splendid contrast to the modernity of the new station and surrounding Olympic Park.  I look forward to seeing him in the metal whenever I'm next in Stratford (which may well be for the Olympics!).

Loco is restored for the Olympics

Loco is restored for the Olympics

A charming little [local] story here that could easily have been overlooked amongst all the myriad big articles and discussions that surround the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It's splendid to see that this little steam engine is to be given a new lease of life and will retain its place outside Stratford railway station as a welcome attraction for the millions who will be flocking to the area in 2 years time to see the Games. It could have been all too easy, as is mentioned in the video, for 'Robert' to have been put into storage (or even worse, scrapped altogether) but I am delighted to see the Olympic organisers appreciate such a wonderful machine to such an extent that they will have it restored and kept a part of the station and the great event that will be the 2012 Olympics.