Purpose-built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd. for Chatham Dockyard in 1941, no. 7042 ‘Ajax’ is a unique survivor of the Admiralty’s steam locomotive disposal in 1972. Working tirelessly until the Dockyard closed in 1984.
‘Ajax’ has never left the site she was created to serve.
She is a working reminder of the people, skills, and industry that built Chatham Royal Dockyard. Restoring her will allow visitors to see, hear, and experience an authentic piece of the Dockyard’s industrial past in action. Help us to restore ‘Ajax’ and bring her back into steam before her 90th birthday in 2031.
POWERING THE COMEBACK: AJAX’S CRUCIAL £20,000 BOILER REVIVIAL
We are raising £20,000 for the next exciting phase of the ‘Ajax’ restoration. She needs a full inspection of her boiler and the tubes replaced. This represents one of the most significant milestones on the journey to returning her to steam before her 90th birthday.
Boiler tubes are at the heart of every steam locomotive, carrying hot gases through the boiler to generate the steam that powers the engine. Completing this crucial work will bring ‘Ajax’ a major step closer to raising steam once again and returning her to our track.
POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS
Restoration is being led by a dedicated team of volunteers who share a deep passion for ‘Ajax’ and the site’s other historic locomotives – Rochester Castle, Overlord, and Thalia. Their commitment to preserving this vital piece of railway heritage is what keeps this project moving forward. With their expertise, enthusiasm, and countless hours of donated time, these volunteers are the driving force behind bringing ‘Ajax’ back to life.
DONATE TODAY
Join us in restoring this powerhouse and ensuring that the bark of a Dockyard steam engine remains a living, breathing part of our landscape. Every donation helps return ‘Ajax’ to steam and ensures the story of Chatham’s railway heritage continues to be told.
Every donation brings us closer to hearing ‘Ajax’ whistle once more.
Put your team’s strength to the test and help save a piece of Dockyard history.
Think your team has what it takes? At The Historic Dockyard Chatham, you’ll harness up alongside your colleagues, friends, or gym group and pull Overlord, a 21-tonne diesel locomotive with a genuinely remarkable historic past, 50 metres along the railway track in front of our iconic slips.
It’s physical, it’s brilliant fun, a challenge to remember and every entry helps us raise funds to restore our steam locomotive ‘Ajax’.
These vital restoration projects remain unfunded. Every donation, large or small, will help us complete this work and return ‘Ajax’ to steam in time for her 90th birthday.
Task
Amount Needed
Why is it important?
Replace boiler tubes
£20,000
Essential for generating steam – the core of the locomotive’s power
Install washout hole bosses and doublers
£10,000
Strengthens key access points for maintenance and safety
Replace firebox tubeplate
£25,000
Critical structural component supporting the tubes inside the firebox
Replace lagging (insulation)
£2,000
Improves efficiency and protects the boiler
Replace eashout plugs
£2,000
Allows safe cleaning and maintenance of the boiler
TOTAL FUNDS NEEDED
£59,000
‘Ajax’ under steam at The Dockyard – a preview of what the restoration project aims to achieve.
‘Ajax’ being dismantled
These final photos show ‘Ajax’ being carefully dismantled at the very start of this project, with key boiler components being exposed, removed and prepared for restoration as ‘Ajax’ moves through to the next stage of her repair.
We are proud that we generate significant income from our operations and trading functions but we do require funding to enable us to manage our huge maintenance burden and maintain excellence in all the museum and learning services we provide.
There are a number of ways in which you can support us:
