WHAT SHOULD BE THE FATE OF "Y"82 Typical of the late nineteenth Century light narrow gauge developmental locomotive, Y82 is a reminder of a bygone era in the Town of Peterborough. In her day, she was a symbol of hope and impending good fortune, as she ran her trains over what was then considered to be the new Wheat Bowl in the Land of Hope. Built by Beyer, Peacock and Co.(Manchester UK) in 1888, She saw service not only out of Peterborough and Terowie, but also over the narrow gauge lines of the North and the South East. Her Centenery, 23 years ago, barely raised a whisper and she was left a rusting , and vandalised eye sore. Hardly a befitting end for such a worthy beast. The irony of the sad end for this locomotive is that suitable storage facilities are no more than three kilometres away. She could be under cover. She could be stabilised and made safe. She could even be under restoration. One of the great beauties of these machines is the simplicity of construction , and the effectiveness of their design for the uses for which they were intended. Indeed, the WAGR and timber millers in WA ran identical machines up until the end of steam. It is not in dispute that both PMR720 and T199 is still "sitting" in the sheds at Peterborough. How ever that is no reason why such an historic machine as Y82 should be left out to rot and Vandalisim. It is not in dispute that the beast has sat in the open for close to 40 years. F251 sat at Salisbury, in a much wetter environment for nigh on the same time, yet today it steams as a symbol of the enthusiasm and dedication of a very small group of people who had a dream, and, in the face of many knockers (who believed it would never happen) and much adversity, brought her back to life. The cost of moving Y82 to a covered environment would be much, less that the liability it poses in its current locale. Why move it to be an eye-sore elsewhere, when it can be safely preserved in the centre of the town's railway heritage area, the Peterborough Round House. She can still be a symbol of hope and good fortune for the district this time through a brighter future in the Roundhouse and Tourist Line. Is Peterborough serious about its future as a railway preservation centre'? Story Credits to :" written by Nic Doncaster and Published in "The Partyline" Steamtown Magazine. No66 1997 FOOT NOTE added by R.Stirling. In The time Since this article was written by Nick Doncaster "Y82" has undergone a refurbishment programe , she has been sand blasted and the rust has been removed,and she has been re painted and moved to her new location, as a tourist attraction in The Main Street tourist park in Peterborough "SteamTown" is to carrying on this work. SteamTown dsperately needs funds and our help and support if they are to carry on their restoration work , of not only Y82 but also T199 and PMR720 and also to run W901 with their Tourist consist and upgrade track etc. Please suport steamtown by coming to their open days and have a guided tour of the Rowndhouse and Workshops A small donation is all it costs. Why not enjoy a real live Steam Trip to Black Rock or Eurelia. R.V.Stirling....................