Steam Engine Restored to Honor Plymouth Boy’s Cancer Battle

A steam engine got fixed up in Plymouth. People restored it in memory of Oliver Brown. Oliver died of a rare cancer. He was only eleven years old. The train will raise money for the hospice, Little Harbour, where Oliver passed away in 2019. Oliver’s family was with him.

Oliver’s brother, Benjamin, was eight then. Oliver suffered from Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a blood cancer very rare in kids. He received treatment for three years. Friends of Oliver’s parents restored the train to honor Oliver’s memory.

Train fans worked at Plym Valley Railway. The locomotive is named Lord Oliver Brown. It will run next month on Oliver’s birthday, when he would have been seventeen years old. The train wasn’t used for seventeen years.

The Polish engine is from 1959 and has pink and green colors, Oliver’s favorite colors. Marc Bellin owns the locomotive now, and Richard Gibson designed the new look. Gibson, who works at Network Rail, is also a Brown family friend.

The design includes the hospice logo. Oliver’s brother, Benjamin, now fourteen, helped and suggested some ideas. The first ride will be for Oliver’s family. They will travel up the Plym Valley line, and public ticket rides follow later that day.

All money raised goes to the hospice. The train will then run regularly at Plym Valley. Mike Brown said the train makes people smile. It brought people together after a long time.

Doctors diagnosed Oliver in 2016 with the syndrome because of a gene. This gene also caused him to be born deaf. He had intense treatments and many operations, spending much time in the hospital. Doctors told the family bad news in 2019.

They said Oliver had only weeks to live. To make great memories, the family decided to have fun to give Benjamin memories of his brother. Oliver lived five more months with his loved ones.

Nicky Brown is proud of her son. Oliver inspired the beautiful locomotive. It will spread smiles and happiness forever and help the hospice that helped their family. They have supported the family since 2017 with all their endeavors.

Sarah Stott, a fundraising head at the hospice, is excited about the train launching. She said it honors Oliver’s memory well. Families can enjoy it while raising money at the same time. It will be something special for years to come.