Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter
A LIFELONG Huddersfield Town fan hasmade a replica of the 1930s Huddersfield Town steam locomotive and given it to the club.
John Mark, who is 78, has spent 10 years making the replica train, specially named after the club.
He presented it to the Galpharm Stadiumand hopes supporters, sports stars and visitors will be able to see it in all its glory.
The replica is based on the design for the Sandringham Class engine, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley.
There were some 23 trains built and named after football clubs during the pre-Second World War era.
The sixth train was named after Town because they were a top club at the time.
Other trains were named after Arsenal, Sheffield United, Grimsby, Derby and Darlington, which was included because the trains were built in the town.
John, from Berry Brow, said: "I've Replica Juicy Couture Handbags always been interested in trains and this combines my love of them with my love for Town.
"I have supported the club since I was a boy and it gives me great pleasure to donate this to the team I love, its supporters and the other sportsmen and women of Huddersfield."
The replica is built on a 3/4in=1ft scale of the original locomotive.
Panerai FakeJohn made each piece painstakingly by hand and fitted them together.
He added: "It was a very difficult thing to build because there were no original drawings.
"It took a huge amount of research and I travelled all over the country collecting as much information as I could.
"It has taken me a good number of years, but it is a pleasure to be able to donate it to the club and its supporters."
Sean Jarvis, director of business development for Town and the Huddersfield Giants, said: "We are deeply honoured and very thankful to John for donating it to us.
"The time, skill and effort that has obviously gone into it is remarkable.
"I would urge anyone who is in and around the stadium to come and take a look at it."
In addition to the Town locomotive there was also a cargo ship named after the club, as well as a range of beers.
The replica train takes pride of place near the stairway behind the off ice area at the Galpharm Stadium.
CAPTION(S):
PRESENTATION: Sean Jarvis (left) with John and Barbara Mark, of Berry Brow, and John's replica locomotive; BELOW: The actual train in the 1930s (PW160508Eloco-02
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