McArthur Group Ltd

   

A BRISTOL galvanizing company has commemorated the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel by Hot Dip galvanizing a replica steam train. The replica steam train is a centre-piece for the Britain in Bloom flower festival and to commemorate the Brunel 200 celebrations.

The McArthur Group, established in 1839 and the only galvanizing company in the city, has galvanized a replica model of the North Star steam train which will permanently stand at Alexandra Parade, Weston-Super-Mare.

The replica train was made by Weston-Super-Mare-based blacksmith Nathan Bennett over a three month period. The train was then passed to the McArthur Group in 78 individual parts for Hot Dip galvanizing to British Standard EN ISO 1461. The actual dipping took an hour while the complete process lasted five hours. The finished replica train weighed 930kg.

The North Star was designed by George Stephenson in 1833 and was intended for use on the New Orleans Railway, USA, but delivery was never taken. The train was purchased by the Great Western Railway and ran on the line from 1837 to 1870.

Phil Bingham, plant manager at McArthur Group, said: The North Star has been a very interesting project to work on as we havent galvanized a replica steam train before. We feel this is a fitting tribute, since the McArthur Group was founded in 1839 when Brunel was making his mark on Bristol and now the Brunel 200 celebrations coincide with our 350,000 investment plans.

The McArthur Group has undergone the investment in order to improve on their commitment to their Environmental, Health and Safety Policy. An added benefit is an increase in productivity and improvement in the quality of the Galvanized product.

The train was commissioned by Weston-Super-Mare Town Council. Councillor David Evans said: The North Star has been very well received by the public and has become a focal point of the town. We are extremely pleased with the result as the train has been made to a very high standard by local companies. We hope that both residents and visitors to Weston Super Mare will enjoy the replica train for many more years to come.

The replica train, commissioned by Weston-Super-Mare Town Council, will now permanently stand at Alexandra Parade with its tender filled with seasonal flowers.

The project was financed by Kerri Michael, managing director of Regency Insurance, Weston-Super-Mare, as a memorial for his late father Axentis Michael, a well-known business man and hotelier in the town.