A £35,000 APPEAL has been launched to give the York-based iconic locomotive Winston Churchill a new look for the 50th anniversary of the wartime leader’s death.

Millions of mourners watched as the British Railways No. 34051 Winston Churchill hauled the former Prime Minister’s funeral train from Waterloo to Hanborough, in Oxfordshire, on January 30, 1965.

Churchill was the first statesman to receive a state funeral in the 20th century, and after the locomotive bearing his name fulfilled its duty, it joined the National Collection in 1966.

It is now on display at the National Railway Museum in York and is in the same condition it arrived in, in urgent need of a cosmetic overhaul.

The Friends of the National Railway Museum are behind the fundraising campaign.

Ian Harrison, chairman of the south of England group, said: “We are hoping to raise £35,000 by the end of the year and are planning a number of fundraising events across the UK.

“We are starting proceedings with a grand gala dinner at the National Railway Museum on April 9, where our supporters can enjoy a four-course dinner, musical entertainment and the chance to win a number of unique prizes.

“We are determined that the work be carried out in good time for the 50th anniversary of Churchill’s death and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015.”

A special guest at the gala dinner will be James Lester, who was the fireman on Churchill’s funeral train.

Mr Lester’s railway career began in 1957 as a cleaner at Nine Elms, and finished in 2004 as the traction officer at Eurostar.

He explained: “The steam days were always special to me, and my journey on the funeral train stands out in particular.

“My memories remain with me today and I am giving the proposed restoration of Winston Churchill to its former glory my full support.”

Winston Churchill was one of 44 Battle Of Britain Class locomotives produced by the Southern Railway between 1945 and 1950.

Tickets for the gala dinner cost £55 or £500 for a table of ten.

Phone the Friends office on 01904 636874 or email nrm.friends@nrm.org.uk to book. Donations to the appeal should be sent to FNRM (Winston Churchill), Leeman Road, York, Y026 4XJ.