The 75069 Fund
The 75069 Fund owns BR Standard 4MT No 75069 and BR Mark 1 coaches 4550, 25771 and 34562. It formerly owned 34567.
The Fund is one of three similar funds operating on the SVR. An initial group of 18 members formed The Ivatt Class 4 Group to purchase LMS Ivatt Class 4 43106, a larger group formed The Passenger Tank Fund to purchase BR Riddles 4MT 80079, before a still larger group formed The 75069 Fund.[1]
The announcement of launch of the 75069 Fund appeared in SVR News in late 1971 with a brief article "75069: Advance notice is given of the fund to purchase this Standard Class 4 4-6-0 from Barry, by the same team that organised the funds for 43106 and later 80079."[2] A meeting to discuss the proposed purchase the loco was held in Birmingham on 18 May 1972, following which an initial appeal raised approximately £1,300 towards the asking price of £3,500, with shares being offered in £5 units.[3] The locomotive was acquired after a further successful appeal to raise the full price before the introduction of VAT on 1 April 1973.[4]
In 2011 Railway Herald Magazine reported that a special meeting of The Passenger Tank Fund had been arranged for 30 October 2011 to discuss and vote on a proposed sale of the locomotive (80079) to Mr Jeremy Hosking with a view to the sale proceeds being applied to The 75069 Fund. [1] No such sale took place.
The fund also is a minor shareholder of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC.[5] It does not have an active presence on social media.