24th February, 2025
Polish steam locomotive restored in memory of 11-year old boy
Lord Oliver Brown
A team of train enthusiasts have restored a former Polish steam engine to running order in memory of an 11-year-old boy who died of a rare form of cancer, and to raise money for the hospice where he died.
Oliver Brown from Plymstock in Devon had a rare form of blood cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which throughout the world only affects four in one million children.
Oliver received treatment for it for three years, but in May 2019 doctors told his parents they could do no more for Oliver, and he only had a few weeks to live.
The Browns decided to have as much fun as possible whilst Oliver was well enough, and to provide his brother Benjamin with a lifetime of memories of him.
Oliver sadly passed away on 2nd November 2019 at Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Harbour in St Austell.
For the last five years, train enthusiasts and friends of Oliver’s parents Mike and Nicky have been busy restoring a 1959 Polish ‘Tkh’ steam locomotive at the Plym Valley Railway in memory of Oliver.
Restoration has now been completed, and the locomotive has been painted in Oliver’s favourite colours of striking pink and green colour scheme and named
Lord Oliver Brown.
It also incorporates the Children’s Hospice South West logo and suggestions from Oliver’s brother Benjamin.
Oliver’s mother Nicky said she was incredibly proud that her beautiful son has inspired this wonderful locomotive which would continue to spread smiles and happiness, and also support the hospice that had done so much for Oliver and his family since 2017.
Lord Oliver Brown is owned by Marc Bellin.
Its new livery was designed by Marc’s Network Rail colleague Richard Gibson, who is a friend of the Brown family and one of the team who worked on the restoration project.
On Sunday 9th March, which would have been Oliver’s 17th birthday,
Lord Oliver Brown will steam for the first time in 17 years, and take Oliver’s friends and family along the Plym Valley Railway line to Plymbridge and back, followed by journeys throughout the day for members of the public, with all money raised being donated to Children’s Hospice South West.
In January 2024, the Plym Valley Railway purchased a fully operational steam engine which achieved one of its long-term goals, and last November a pair of ex-GWR HST power cars found a home at the railway.
Sarah Stott, Head of Fundraising at CHSW’s Little Harbour Children’s Hospice said they were really excited for the launch of the Lord Oliver Brown train and it would not only honour Oliver’s memory and that being enjoyed by other children and families while raising money for the hospice would be really special.
“This train can only make you smile. It’s brought so many people together, made new friendships and memories, which is amazing as it’s just what Oliver did through his life – made friends and created memories for others. Oliver was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome at Bristol Children’s Hospital towards the end of 2016, which he had developed as a result of a complicated genetic disorder relating to his GATA2 gene that also led to him being born deaf. He then spent the following three years facing intense invasive treatments, over 15 operations, time in isolation and two 5-month stints in Bristol Children’s Hospital.”
Mike Brown
