The 2857 Society

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2857 crossing Highley Station Road Underbridge on 28 September 2011
The 2857 Society was first founded as the 28xx Society in 1971.

The Society is a minor shareholder of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC.[1]

Rolling stock owned by The Society

The Society owns GWR Locomotive 2857 and LMS Brake Van 730866.

Rolling stock formerly owned by The Society

Until 2014 The Society owned and used GWRGreat Western Railway carriage 5043 (now under conversion to GWR 9581 Wheelchair accessible Buffet Car) as a workshop, when it was transferred to the Great Western (SVR) Association. Since 2014 it uses Bewdley-based GWR 143 Tool & Packing Van.

It also owned and sold LMS Hopper Wagon 691804, LNWR 6-wheeled Covered Combination Truck DM395273 and LMS 4-wheeled covered van 98543.

Shareholding and membership

The 28xx Society adopted a formal constitution and was renamed The 2857 Society on 1 May 1974, when it became an unincorporated membership society. Although membership was by subscription, there was a requirement for members also to become a shareholder.

On 21 July 2020 the Financial Conduct Authority registered The Society as Charitable Community Benefit Society ('CBSCommunity Benefit Society, a charitable body') number 8422. On 1 September 2020 the assets and liabilities of the unincorporated 1974 Society, membership of the Society and the shares issued in 2857 were all formally transferred to the CBSCommunity Benefit Society, a charitable body.[2]

From 2023, to simplify administration and legal requirements, the annual membership subscription was discontinued and shareholdings became the only form of stakeholding, with a minimum of 30 £1 shares to become a shareholder of the Society. A monthly share subscription scheme was also introduced. Shares are non-withdrawable and transferable only on the death or insolvency of the shareholder.

The Society publishes 28 Lines, an 'illustrated newsletter magazine', to shareholders around twice a year.

Sales stand

The 2022 Spring Steam Gala hosted the first sales stand for some years, based at Kidderminster and shared with the Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall with whom the two groups have common committee members[3].

Limited edition prints

The Society has produced limited edition prints to raise funds:

  • 'Accelerating the Goods' was a signed and numbered print from John Austin GRA painting showing 2857 in as-built condition, with inside steam passage cylinders, accelerating a goods train on the up fast line from Reading in evening sunlight.
  • Prints of a Bob Kyte pen and ink drawing of 2857 in an 'as restored' condition.

See also

References

  1. Full list of shareholders at 24 June 2016
  2. 2857 Fund website
  3. The 2857 Society Facebook page, 20 April 2022 (Retrieved 20 April 2022)

Links