UK ALCo group

The UK ALCo Group was formed in 2005 to promote awareness and assist in the restoration of ALCo S1 Switchers no's 801, 803 & 804. Five S1's were built in 1949 & 1950 for the Steel Company of Wales and based at Port Talbot steel works in South Wales. All five were retired from service by 1985.
Current Status of UK ALCo S1's
801 was purchased by The Shropshire Collection in 1986 and was eventually moved to Oswestry as a static exhibit. In 2008 it was sold with three other locos in the collection to a prominent preservationist and then almost immediately sold on to European Metal Recycling and moved to its Kingsbury site. This came as a bit of a surprise to members of the UK ALCo Group who knocked their heads together to raise the funds to secure 801 from the cutters torch. Once funds were raised, the loco was purchased and moved to Longhoughton, a private yard adjacent to the East Coast Main Line. The locomotive was started in late 2008 and moved under its own power in April 2009. Once restored it will eventually be used on the Aln Valley Railway.
802 was retired from service well before the other S1's in 1982. It provided spare parts to keep the others running until 1985 and was cut up in 1986.
803 was purchased by an individual in 1986 and moved to Thame, Buckinghamshire in the mid 90's. It now resides at Wallingford on the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway and according to its owner, restoration is expected to be on a long term basis. Several approaches were made by members of the UK ALCo Group between 2005 and 2009 to provide volunteer labour to restore 803. Given the most recent events regarding 801 and 804 (see below) the group are hopeful tha their offers will be accepted.
804 was in fact donated to Railworld not Friends of Railworld, The locomotive was Started for the first time since 1985 on the 4th July 2009, work is continuing to get the locomotive to take power for the first time in October 2009, whilst a full repaint is underway into the correct British Steel Colours.
805 is a bit of a quandry. It was reported that 805 had been sold to the Shropshire Collection and was on display in Oswestry until fading paint revealed that it was in fact 801 on display there. It is believed that 805 must have been cut up at Port Talbot in 1986. The true status of 805 has yet to be confirmed.
The Future
If the group is able to aid in the restoration of 803, it is hoped that all three remaining S1's can be reunited. This could take place at the AVR or at an industrial location.
The UK ALCo Group has a website at www.ukalcogroup.co.uk and a mailing list that can be accessed at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/ALCo-s1-804/

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