The Class 15 Preservation Society has opened a new fundraiser for its CoBo Appeal.

It began a drive for donations last September. It runs its appeals through Facebook, which means that they are time-limited, and the most recent appeal’s time has now expired.

But with more money still needed for the HSTVEE8 Engine overhaul on locomotive D5705, the Society has launched a new appeal.

The previous Co-Bo Appeal (Continued) Facebook Fundraiser has been replaced with the Co-Bo Appeal (Final Push).

Supporters who wish to donate to the work need to use the new fund appeal from today (Friday 13 March).

The work is being carried out at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway.

Locomotive D5705 is the sole survivor of the twenty ‘Co-Bo’ Class 28 diesel locomotives.

‘Co-Bo’ (or ‘Bo-Co’) is the nickname of the Metro-Vic Class 28s. It derives from its unusual wheel arrangement, with a ‘Bo’ (two axled) bogie at one end and a ‘Co’ (three axled) bogie at the other end. All five of the locomotive’s axles are powered via traction motors.

The Class 28 locos were built under the Pilot Scheme for diesel locomotives, which was part of the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan.

D5705 was withdrawn from service in 1968, and by the following year, the whole class has been withdrawn. D5705 survived being scrapped because the BR Research Division wanted to use it. After this, it was converted into a Carriage Heating Unit as TDB 968006.

The locomotive has been in preservation since 1980. It spent several years in Matlock before moving to the East Lancashire Railway.

Since September last year, the Class 15 Preservation Society has raised £12,000, a figure it describes as “phenomenal” and which is nearly three-quarters of the £16,680 that it has been quoted for the works.

A large amount of the money has been received since February’s Condor photo charter.

The Society is hopeful that this latest appeal will raise the remaining money and welcomes donations of any amount, large or small.