General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society

The General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society (GSNLRS) are the proud custodians of the Southern Railway Bulleid Merchant Navy class locomotive 21c11 / 35011 General Steam Navigation. 

The Society aims to restore the Merchant Navy locomotive 21c11 / 35011 to her original as built condition complete with air smoothed casing and Bulleid's unique chain driven valve gear. Retro-converting a Merchant Navy has long been debated since the days of Barry Scrap Yard with 11 of the 30 members of the class surviving the cutters torch. General Steam Navigation went to Barry in June 1966 with most of her running gear missing and critically no crank axle. This has put GSN in a rather unique position compared to her sisters as the cost of restoring her to either rebuilt or original condition are fairly similar. We are recreating the missing link in preservation.

We endeavour to promote education in technology and engineering associated with the preservation and restoration of heritage steam.