Narrow Gauge News No 354 September 2019 - The news journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society Published every other month - www.ngrs.org
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Narrow
Gauge No 354
News September
2019
The news journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society
Published every other month - www.ngrs.org
British and Irish
News: Page 13
Bredgar & Wormshill Railway: Lady Joan and Bronhilde on shed.
Photo: John Moore
Overseas News:
Page 27
Mozambique: Dubs 2760/1892. Photo: John Moore
Miniature News:
Page 57
Other contents of issue 354:
Society News: Page 4
Obituary: Page 5 Wild Aster at Yeovil Railway Centre. Photo: Jonathan James
Modelling: Page 6
Archaeology and History: Page 7
Reviews: Page 12
Society Officials: Page 55
Editor: Miniature Lines
Narrow
Paul Bennett Editor:
90, Stortford Hall Park, Jonathan James
Bishop’s Stortford. 31, Beacon Road,
CM23 5AN Chatham, Kent. ME5 7BW
pj.bennett@ntlworld.com Jonathan.james@
Gauge
hotmail.co.uk
British and Irish Narrow
Gauge Editor: Archaeology and History:
Gerry Balding Graham Feldwick
75, Vane Close, 22A Ropers Lane, No 354
News
Thorpe St Andrew, Wareham, Dorset
Norwich BH20 4QT September
NR7 0US feldwick@globalnet.co.uk
gerry.balding@ 2019
tiscali.co.uk Modelling:
Les Tindall
Overseas Narrow Gauge 47 Cliff Court, Currie Road,
Editor: Sandown, Isle of Wight.
Alan Burgess PO36 8NU
6 The Crescent, Orton leslie.w.tindall@
Longueville gmail.com
Peterborough. PE2 7DT
aamarketing@ Please send news,
Btconnect.com photographs and videos to
the correct address.
This is the largest edition of Narrow Gauge News that I have ever track; to add to our knowledge of the past pictures of former
edited! It is thanks to the hard work of our section editors that we trackbed, buildings and earthworks are an essential tool.
are able to bring members so much information each month. They,
however, would not be able to do their work if it were not for the This summer has seen some very hot weather indeed, and we are
fact that you, the members, send in your reports and photographs. becoming aware of the effects of global warming on our climate.
Long may it continue. There may well come a time when the use of coal will be curtailed or
even forbidden in the interests of the atmosphere. Perhaps dirty
Once again, I have to apologise to those who sent in photos which diesels will go the same way.
have not made it to the cut. We publish all the reports that we
receive, but if we were to include all the photographs we would It would be interesting to read members’ views on this subject and to
either have to make them very small indeed or include a huge consider what alternatives to carbon-emitting equipment there
number of pages. This we cannot do. might be. If you have a view, let us know.
I am encouraged by the continuing growth of the Archaeology and As the summer season draws to its close let us record our thanks to
History section. I know that Graham and Leslie Feldwick work those thousands of volunteers (you may be one of them) who keep
tirelessly for us and for the Industrial Railway Society, but others can our heritage lines running. Without them our lives would be the
add a great deal to this section as well. Please do not assume that poorer.
we only want pictures of shining locomotives and scenic views of
All members are sent a direct link to the latest NGN via
Front cover:
Membermojo email, so please double-check that your address
Germany: Selfkantbahn.
is correct by logging in and checking your details. Anyone having
Schwarzach at Schierwaldenrath.
difficulties with access via the link should contact Mick Morgan on
Photo: Jonathan James
mick@ngrs.org
Back cover:
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways: WHR Garratt 143 crosses
the Cob with the coaches for the 09.40 departure to Caernarfon
on 22nd June. Photo: Alan Bowler Copy Date for
NARROW GAUGE NEWS 355
is 15 October 2019
THE NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY SOCIETY
Serving the Narrow Gauge World since 1951
Society News
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS All Open Days are from 11am to 4pm and full other members will contribute.
details can be found at Monday 9 December Welshpool & Llanfair
The annual renewal season is now virtually www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk Update : Geoff Gauntlett
complete (though we have been known to More insights into life on the W&L over the
receive payments as late as December!) and (See railway websites for non-enthusiast last year or so. Geoff makes a hands-on
the total loss so far is 123, comprising 36 events) contribution to running the line from the
formal resignations, 77 members who simply footplate, and his digital reports on progress
failed to respond to reminders, and, sadly, Model Railway Exhibitions: shine light on both familiar and less
ten who passed away. This leaves a nett total appreciated aspects of the railway: always a
at 1 August, excluding associates and visits Sat 28 September: Yorkshire Garden Railway fascinating and varied evening.
members, of 1,322. Show, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road,
Elsecar, S. Yorkshire, S74 8HJ. 6 x 16mm scale Our season continues into 2020 and there
This figure is some thirty less than at the layouts. will be more information about our
same date last year, underlining the need for forthcoming meetings in the next NGN.
all members to look at ways to reach Sat 5 October: Sudbury Model Railway
potential recruits. The Committee is also Exhibition, St. Peters Church Hall, Market Peter Lemmey
continuing to explore opportunities to Hill, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2EH. 16 layouts, (peterlemmey@waitrose.com)
attract new members through approaches to 6 narrow gauge.
relevant railways and groups. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED
Thur 17 – Sun 20 October: Midlands Model
Lawson Little Engineering Exhibition, Warwickshire Event Welsh Highland Heritage No 84, September
Centre, The Fosse, Fosse Way, Leamington 2019. Essential for those interested in the
EVENTS Spa CV31 1XN. 40 exhibitors, 50 traders. history of the WHR.
Sat 26 October: Mid Wales Model Railway
Abbey Pumping Station Show, Town Hall, High Street, Welshpool. Manx Steam Railway News No 178, Summer
5/10 Slot-car Railway Day The show features Roy Link’s 16mm scale 2019. Essential reading for those who love
“Crowsnest Tramway”, 7mm Hulme End the island’s railways.
Amberley Museum (Leek & Manifold)and Dave Rowe’s 009
22/9 Historic Bus Show Llanregub. The Works: newsletter of the Twyford
29/9 Landrover Day Waterworkss Trust, July 2019.
20/10 Historic Transport Autumn Gathering Sat 26 October: Exeter Garden Railway Show
1/11 Halloween ,The Matford Centre, Matford Park Road, Irish Railway Record Society Journal Vol 28
Marsh Barton Ind Estate, Exeter EX2 8FD. June 2019, No 199. Fascinating narrow
Apedale 16mm and 7/8ths scales gauge memories from Lord O’Neill.
21-29/9 50 Birthday Celebrations
26-27/10 Halloween Welsh Highland Railway Journal, issue 191,
AREA GROUP DIARY
July 2019. This includes an absorbing article
Ashmanhaugh LR about the Pickering brake composite.
London and Southern Area
6/10 Open Day
FOR SALE
2019-2020 Season
Bredgar & Wormshill
27/10 End of Season Steam Up Broad Gauge Society etches for the 2 ton
Meetings are held on Monday evenings at
braked, unratcheted waggon are available
The Model Railway Club, Keen House,
Bressingham from me in 4mm scale. £4.50 each including
Calshot Street, London N1 9DA and are run
25-26/10 Halloween postage or offers for all stock of 13 are
jointly with the Welshpool and Llanfair
27/10 Last Open Day welcome at around £50 + postage - contact
Railway. The venue is a few minutes walk
paultownsend49@gmail.com
from King’s Cross and St Pancras stations.
Crowle Peatlands Railway
Refreshments are on sale from the bar, and
21-22/9 Open Event
there is a bookstall.
Our first Christmas card is from the
All members and friends are most welcome.
Festiniog/Welsh Highland Railways Fairbourne Railway Preservation Society: see
Programmes begin at 7.00pm and finish by
4-6/10 Victorian Vintage Weekend their website for details.
9.30pm, with an interval.
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
Kirklees
Monday 14 October Adrian Garner:
14-15/9 Steam & Diesel Gala
Monorails (Part 2): the Twentieth Century
12/10 Plaxton Herritage Coach Day
Adrian's book on this topic is well-known; his
25-27/10 Halloween
first talk, on 19th century monorails history,
went down very well and he will now
Talyllyn Railway
continue the story from 1900 starting with
29-31/10 Halloween
Wuppertal and continuing with Gyroscopics,
industrials, the Bennie Railplane and much
Twyford Waterworks, Hazeley Road,
more.
Twyford, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1QA
The industrial lime kiln railway will be in
Monday 11 October Jugoslavian 60cms: an
operation on the last main open day of the
evening on the Gostivar-Lake Ohrid line
season on Sunday 6 October. Locomotives
A programme of digital images, slides and
and wagons not on display will be made
movies covering the famous Macedonian
available to NGRS members for photography
line and its Brigadeloks – its history
on request. Please note that we do not give
(including the WW1 Salonika Front) and how
rides.
it's remembered today. Alex Zivanovic and
4
Obituaries
Frank Jux 1935 – 2019 through Rhodesia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and
Kenya. From Beira the Land Rover was shipped to Bombay, from
Frank Jux died on 22 May 2019 and at his funeral at Mortlake on 25 where they explored India and Pakistan, before driving through the
June the NGRS was represented by Andrew Neale, with Middle East. Chas fell ill in Tehran and had to fly home, leaving
representatives of the Industrial Locomotive Society Industrial Frank to travel alone from there back to London. On returning
Railway Society and the Stephenson Locomotive Society. He was home Frank produced a duplicated report on their travels, and
born on 15 August 1935 in Richmond-upon-Thames, and on distributed copies to his friends. It was a fascinating document, full
completing his education qualified as an accountant, afterwards of meticulously recorded facts on the visits and humorous
doing National Service in the RAF. The family home in Richmond anecdotes of their experiences. Mike Swift persuaded Frank and
was by the goods yard which an 0-6-0 would shunt each day and Chas to visit Yorkshire and on 17 February 1968 presented a slide
may have spurred his interest in railways, but it was industrial show to 13 NGRS and IRS members packed into his home.
locomotives, steam, diesel and electric, but especially narrow
gauge, which really captured Frank’s imagination. By the age of 16 Frank began to make trips with Frank Jones, in 1972 they toured
he was collecting the Birmingham Locomotive Club – Industrial sugar mills in Indonesia, and India in 1979 where they visited the 2ft
Locomotive Section (BLC-ILS) Industrial Locomotive Pocket Books, gauge system of Phalton Sugar Works with Bagnall 4-4-0Ts and the
and by 1951 was visiting many local sites and later while on holiday 2’ 6” gauge Equitable Coal Railway with Barclay 2-8-4Ts. Closer to
others in Cornwall, Wales, Lancashire and Scotland. home they took the trusty Land Rover to Turkey.
Frank was a diligent recorder and prolific writer, his first article on Frank was a member of the Continental Railway Circle from its
the Port of Par appeared in the BLC-ILS Bulletin for July 1955. The inception, which in 1969 published a book on Indian narrow gauge
Section established a London branch in 1955 and Frank took an locomotives written by Frank and Hugh Hughes, revised and re-
active role by organising visits. Southam Cement Works initially issued in 1980 as part of a four part series Indian Locomotives.
refused a visit but later wrote to Frank offering a special visit. This
was the last cement works employing narrow gauge steam From the 1970s Frank directed his energies towards researching the
locomotives, and the visit on 27 October 1956, attracted almost 50. history of industrial railways and locomotives. A diligent researcher
Many sand and gravel quarries north and west of London had and meticulous recorder he went through the records of Motor Rail
narrow gauge railways at this time and Frank sought these out, also Ltd at Bedford, initially to update IRS publications, but later this
the depot of the locomotive dealer George W Bungay at Heston. In formed a major part of Alan M. Keef’s book Motor Rail Ltd. Frank
1960 Frank wrote and published on his own account a small booklet joined the Industrial Locomotive Society (ILS) in 1976 and quickly
“British Narrow Gauge Steam”, which introduced many NGRS became a regular contributor to The Industrial Locomotive. The ILS
member to the more than 200 that then survived. went on to publish a series of his works lists: John Fowler in April
1985; Peckett in December 1987 and Kerr, Stuart in March 1992.
In the mid-1960s Frank joined the Fluor Corporation building the His research into various trade magazines produced a publication on
Sasol oil from coal plant in South Africa. This provided new industrial loco sales adverts. He joined the SLS in 2002, attracted by
opportunities for visits, especially when Frank acquired a Land the library’s collection of works lists, and was appointed Deputy
Rover, and his article “No Steam at Mount Edgecombe” (Industrial Librarian to Reg Carter. He was co-author of three IRS Handbooks,
Railway Record, September 1966) described a visit Frank made to County of London being published in 2008; Essex in 2011 and Surrey
the Natal sugar industry, the first of many articles he wrote for the and Sussex in 2015 and contributed much to earlier IRS publications
Record. He encouraged Chas Rickwood to join him at Fluor and they including the Hertfordshire and Middlesex handbook, published in
made many visits together including to Angola and Cameroon 2007.
where his contacts later led him to import two narrow gauge 0-6-
0WT locomotives, OK 12740 of 1936, now Elf on the Leighton All those interested in industrial and narrow gauge railways and
Buzzard Light Railway, and Jung 3872 of 1931, now on the Bredgar locomotives owe a debt of gratitude to Frank, without whose
Light Railway. attention to detail and articulate writing the sum of our knowledge
would be much less than it is today.
At the end of their contract at Fluor in late 1967 Frank and Chas
returned to London in Frank’s Land Rover, an incredible journey Chris West and Mike Swift
Industrial railways captured for posterity? Amerton Light Railway: Rishra and Lorna Doone with the RAF Fauld goods wagons.
Photo: Mike Swift
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
5
Modelling - edited by Les Tindal
Here are a couple of photos of my 16mm
locomotives.
Both are scratch built static models in
plasticard from drawings by Christian Cenac
(available from the NGRS Library). On both
locos the boiler is made from Acrylic tube,
with 3D printed wheels on the WW1 Alco
(no commercial ones available in that size
or style) and 3D printed chimney and dome
on the Tasmanian Garratt. Locos plates are
from Narrow Planet.
At Rothley Station on the Great Central
Railway in Leicestershire is a sizeable 16mm
scale Garden Railway. When I visited it on
16 June in action was a modified
Roundhouse gas fired “Katie” with the
addition of radio control, steam sound and
extra detailing. The Alco (above) side view and (Below right) backhead detail.
(Left) The Tasmanian Garratt
Do send some photos and construction Photos: Les Tindall
notes of your n.g railway or ones seen at
exhibitions.
(Below) Rothley station railway. Photo: Les Tindall
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
6
Archaeology and History -
Amble, Northumberland transport of copper from nearby
mines. As the mines became
Visit 03/07/19. Two reproduction mine tubs exhausted and their output
of a similar style were seen. Both have dropped, the port was used to
rectangular bodies with strapping with two export china clay from the
sets of angled handles on the upper ends, region's quarries. Despite
and are used as flower beds. The first is in competition from the port at
Leazes Street opposite the harbour on the Pentewan, which opened in 1826,
landward side of the road before Paddlers and from Par, which opened
Park play area. (See NGN 347/18). The shortly afterwards, Charlestown
'chassis' just seems to be two longitudinal prospered from the rapid
metal plates with vertical bearers coming expansion in the export of china
Brooklands Pleasure Park Railway – demolition almost
straight down from the body to the axles. clay until the onset of the First
complete on 7 July. Photo: Graham Lelliot
Gauge is about 17". The other wagon is on World War. The last commercial
Sandpiper Way by The Amble Inn and is load of clay to leave Charlestown
visible from the A1068. This seems to be Photo and report: Graham Lelliott did so in 2000. The harbour is now part of a
about 19½" gauge. The 'track' for both maritime and shipwreck museum.
wagons is just angled metal. The second Charlestown Harbour, Cornwall PL25 3NX
wagon has a plaque saying it was built by (2’4” gauge) A history of the area states that linhays of
nearby HMP Northumberland Engineering hopper form were cut into the rock and a
Works and gives the names of four Charlestown is a village and port on the 2’4” gauge tramway ran in tunnels to from
individuals. south coast of Cornwall. It is situated the linhays to a clay dry. These are now part
approximately 2 miles south east of St of the maritime and shipwreck museum.
Philip Champion Austell town centre. There was also a high level line from a later
clay dry which served a lorry tip high above
The port was originally built to facilitate the the harbour.
On the public road above the east
side of the harbour I found a
edited by Graham Feldwick
short length of track still in place
on the higher loading dock. I
presume the gauge is also 2’4”
but was unable to confirm this as
the track was right on the edge of
the drop and fenced off for safety
reasons. Some covers for tipping
chutes also remain in place. I
assume that this is the last
remaining evidence of the later
high level line but as it is a single
(Above) Reproduction mine tub in Leazes length of track there is no clue as
Street, Amble to how this linked up to the line
(Below) Reproduction mine tub in Sandpiper or of the line’s course to the clay
Way, Amble dry.
Photos: Philip Champion
Gerry Balding
Dalton Castle, Dalton in Furness,
Cumbria
Visit 27/07/19. In the National
Trust-owned Dalton Castle, only
open between 2pm and 5pm on
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
Summer Saturdays, there are
Charlestown: (Above) View of track on high level photographs of the local mines,
loading dock. Note loading hatches. with some striking pictures of the
(Below) View of track on high level loading dock. mine tubs at the Yarlside Pit,
Photos: Gerry Balding operated by the Barrow
Haematite Steel Co. Ltd. Other
local pits were Crown Quarry,
Dalton Quarry, Devonshire
Brooklands Pleasure Park, Worthing, West Quarry, Elliscales Quarry and
Sussex (10¼“ gauge) Goldmire Quarry. They were iron
ore mines, operating from the
Visit 07/07/19 and 28/07/19. Further to the 1880s. In the town centre is a
previous report (NGN 352/9) the bridge commemorative display mounted
over the Teville Stream was removed at the roadside, representing a
11/05/19, followed by the demolition of the mine tub.
engine and carriage shed and finally the
Graham Billington
station building and platforms.
7
2’6” and locomotive working introduced. Pentewan
The railway closed in 1918 as the harbour
was inefficient, too small to accommodate The trackbed leading from Pentewan village
larger vessels and was silting over. Today, towards St. Austell is now a footpath and
the harbour basin still holds water, but the cycleway. There is an interpretation board
lock gates are derelict and behind them the at the start giving a brief industrial history
former channel to the sea is covered by of the area with a photo of a loaded clay
sand dunes. train.
In the 1920s, the Pentewan Dock & The railway entered the harbour area
Concrete Company established a concrete through what is now the village car park. A
making works around the harbour using the few of the concrete company buildings,
Dalton-in-Furness – representation of a existing 2’6” gauge track. An extension was including the weighbridge, still stand
narrow gauge tub on display in the town built across the White River into the dunes although most of the area is now occupied
centre Photo: Graham Billington to aid the extraction of sand for concrete as a storage area for the local sailing club.
making. Some new sidings were laid to
Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset support the business. Odd lengths of rail are still in situ round the
Visit 22/07/19. Located between the main site with one short two-rail section still
entrance and the orthopaedic outpatient These lines survived with the business using visible. Some twisted rail remains half
dept, an internal courtyard houses a piece diesel haulage (photos from this period buried on the beach. A single turnout on the
of “Hospital Art”. This consists of an oak show small 4w DMs including Rustons being line to the beach is still complete. This leads
tree with bare limbs which are painted all used) until production finally ceased in the to a shed which is still standing, built by the
over with gold paint and mounted on a flat late 1950s. concrete company for loco storage.
wagon. The body of the wagon is of wooden
construction. There is no obvious buffing St. Austell Three small bridges (two still with tracks on
gear, but there are flimsy looking central them) leading to the site of the former sand
coupling points. The four wheels look as The site of the terminus, the rail connected hoppers are still in place across a drainage
though they are of a disc pattern. coal yard and gas works on West Hill ditch. The fourth bridge has gone. A larger
The vehicle/tree is standing on bullhead rail remains, but it is now occupied by a Co-Op bridge over the (not very wide) White River
of around 3’0” gauge on wooden sleepers. supermarket and a large car park. At the far carrying the line to the dunes for the sand
end, the sole original remaining railway extraction is still in place. It is now used to
Mike and Alison Trevett building stands. This is the St Austell Clay provide pedestrian access from the village
Cellars. to a caravan park.
The concrete loading ramp alongside the
harbour is clearly visible with plates for
securing rails still in place. This was
originally of timber construction but was
later shortened and encased in concrete.
The sidings built by the original railway
company on the opposite side of the
harbour are now covered by a beer garden
for the adjacent village pub. The rail
connected warehouses on the far side of
the basin still stand, but are now in
Pentewan Railway - the St. Austell clay domestic use.
cellars. Photo: Gerry Balding
A revised and updated version of the
Dorset County Hospital – the sculpture
excellent history of the railway by M. J. T.
being installed Photo: Dorset Echo
The building was constructed around 1860 Lewis was published by Twelveheads Press
and was originally 202’ long, although now in 2018, price £25. ISBN 97809062294949
greatly reduced in length. It was used as a
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
A&H Editor: the ‘Precious Scars’ sculpture is store for china clay carried by horse and Gerry Balding
by Dorchester sculptor Andy Kirkby, and it cart from the Hensbarrow Uplands. The clay
was installed in March 2019 ‘to recognise was then transhipped into railway wagons
the incredible gift of life given by organ before being dispatched to Pentewan. On Pentewan - concrete loading ramp at
donors, with the support of their families’. the end of the building are two plaques; Pentewan Harbour. Photo: Gerry Balding
At present I am trying to establish where the one is a delightful pictorial representation
wagon (or parts of it) originated. of the route with a brief history of the line.
The other explains the purpose of the
Pentewan Railway, St. Austell, Cornwall building.
(2’6” gauge)
The trackbed extends in the Pentewan
Visits 16/06 and 17/06/2019. The Pentewan direction as a narrow tarmac road before
Railway opened in 1829 as a 4’ gauge horse- turning into a footpath. The crossing of the
drawn tramway transporting china clay road at Pondhu (a short distance from the
from the quarries around St. Austell to the terminus) has been obliterated by road
small coastal harbour at Pentewan 3¾ miles improvements.
away. In 1874 the line was converted to
8
Snailbeach Railway and Mine, Snailbeach,
Shropshire SY5 0NZ (2’4” gauge)
Visit 19/06/19. The site is approached by
the road opposite the village hall. Initially
we made the mistake of following a
signpost to an information board, as this
had been twisted towards the village.
However, when asking a local person the
way we were regaled with stories about the
line and had the alignment pointed out to
us and were shown the railings that
View of Pentewan Harbour looking towards indicated where the line went under the Snailbeach Railway: (Above) remaining
St. Austell. The remaining concrete road and where a house had been built over trackwork.
company buildings are on the left. the alignment on an infilled cutting. He said (Below) The former engine shed.
Photo: Gerry Balding when he first farmed there he had to pay a Photos: Colin Davies
fee to cross the right of way. He also told us
John Pitchford also visited Pentewan about a woman who used to use the train
31/07/19 and photographed the line and down the line each Friday, and about an
the harbour: accident where derailed trucks damaged a
building. We were directed to a footpath in
the middle of the village which led through
a series of gates up to the old track bed, and
we continued until passing between two
walls with the remains of a point complete
with a lever. This then opens out onto the
main site.
While there is a lot that can be seen on a
casual visit there is opportunity to see more
on a guided tour
http://shropshiremines.org.uk/snailbeach/s
nailbeach/visits.html.
Colin Davies
(Above) Cycle trail near Pentewan on the
course of the old line. Southend Pier Railway, Southend-on-Sea,
(Below) Not part of the cycle trail itself, the Essex
trackbed passes in front of these cottages
before crossing into the port area at Report 08/07/19. Living near to Southend as
Pentewan. This is the location of a photo of a child, my memories of the pier are of the
the loco Pioneer in 1912 and the houses 3’6” gauge 1949-built AC Cars electric trains,
don’t seem to have changed much. with their distinctive sound as they ran,
(Bottom) Track in situ at Pentewan Harbour caused by the wheelbases lining up with the
Photos: John Pitchford rail joints. They completed 29 years service,
after which there was no railway for a while Southend Pier: (Above) the original pier and
until it was rebuilt using the 3’0” gauge the narrow gauge railway c1860.
Severn Lamb units in 1986. (Bottom of page) The later horse-drawn
line which ran from 1873.
Recent refurbishment has included a new Photos: Southend Echo
entrance to the pier, and old photos and
drawings of Southend seafront have single wooden narrow gauge track until
resurfaced. Uncovered from The Echo 1873. Another better-known photograph
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
archives, they mostly show the iconic pier at shows the replacement horse-drawn
different stages of its life. Whilst the railway which ran until the wooden pier
railways above and the pre-1949 system are became unsafe, this being replaced by the
well known, the earlier lines are less present iron structure in 1889.
documented. One illustration shows the
first pier railway which opened around 1846 Graham Feldwick
using hand propelled carts, running on a
9
alongside the marshes. Just before reaching Tudor House Museum, Worcester,
the A12 several wooden sleepers can be Worcestershire
found, and there remains a short length of
3’0” gauge track buried in the path. Visit 01/08/19. An independent free
museum on Friar Street, in the centre of
Graham & Lesley Feldwick Worcester, has amongst its fascinating array
of exhibits from just about every era of the
Telegraph Museum, Portcurno, Cornwall city’s past, a brief display dedicated to the
city’s trams. The original tramways were
Visit 01/08/19. This is on the site of the old 3’0” gauge. There were three lines from the
Cable and Wireless Telegraph Station, close depot at St Johns totalling 3½ miles,
to Land’s End, where many of the opening in 1881 and utilising single deck
Southwold Railway: (Above) the footbridge international cables came ashore. As a horse trams. Nine trams and 100 horses
steps above the line on Southwold strategic asset in the Second World War, operated the line. In 1898, British Electric
Common. large tunnels were excavated into the Traction took over and in 1904 they opened
(Below) The trackbed curves down through hillside and the telegraph stations installed a new electric tramway with a gauge of
the cutting near Blythburgh. inside to protect them from bombing raids. 3’6”. The new trams, of which there were
Photos: Graham Feldwick As a reminder of the narrow gauge railways 15 at the start of the service, were double
that were laid to assist the excavation, a deck open top cars liveried in holly green
narrow gauge U skip is located outside one and cream. All equipment was supplied by
of the tunnels. There is a photo in the Brush Electrical Engineering Company of
museum of a cabless Ruston and Hornsby Loughborough with rails of German steel.
locomotive drawing a train of skips out of Two more cars were ordered in 1921, but in
the tunnel. 1928 Worcester Corporation bought the
company to close it down on 31 May of that
John Pitchford year to be replaced by the motor
omnibuses of Birmingham and Midland
Motor Omnibus Company Ltd. As part of
the display in the museum, there is a
scratch built model of one of the electric
tram cars.
(Below) A short section of track buried in
the path . Photo: Graham Feldwick
Tudor House Museum – model of a 3’ 6”
U skip at Portcurno Telegraph Museum gauge tram on display.
Photo: John Pitchford Photo: Graham Billington
The National Trust, St Michael’s Mount,
Marazion, Cornwall Winget Bowls Club, off Tuffley Avenue,
Southwold Railway, Southwold, Suffolk Gloucester
Visit 15/07/19. The 2’5” gauge 1/8 mile
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
(3’0”gauge)
funicular railway is still used for moving Visit 17/07/19. Following a rumour that
Visit 13/08/19. Further to the reports in goods from the harbour up to the top of the there was a coach body at the Winget Bowls
NGN 350 and 352 a walk along the trackbed mount. Unfortunately it is mostly in a Club I visited the location to see what was
from Southwold to Blythburgh revealed tunnel. I did not see the rolling stock which there. Although tucked away and not
several less recorded features. In the cutting is named as the Dreckly Express (‘Dreckly’ is obvious to the casual visitor there is indeed
through Southwold Common a gorse fire has a Cornish word meaning ‘some point in the a coach body. The sports ground belonged
cleared the undergrowth sufficiently to future’) to the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon
show the concrete steps that once led onto Company and the coach is one of theirs. The
the rail-built footbridge above the line. David Hangar end door has an engraved glass panel with
Whilst the bridge abutments on the letters FCAB in stylised form and there
Walberswick Common are often A&H Editor: this railway was built around is also a Gloucester builders plate in the
photographed, the route past Eastwood 1902. It is rope-worked, with a gradient doorway dated 1915. The Gloucester
Lodge towards Blythburgh is less visited - varying from 1 in 2 to 1 in 14. There is just Carriage and Wagon Company was taken
here the original fence posts can still be seen one 4-wheeled wagon which has a body over by Winget in 1961.
by the lineside before the trackbed runs resembling a trunk, which is in regular use
through an impressive cutting and then on to move items up to the castle. Through a friend, the Bowls Club has
an embankment before leveling out supplied further information. Although
10there is a story that the carriage was Roadside Wagons / Tubs
torpedoed during delivery, the following
information is derived from research done Many thanks for the great response to my
by the Tourist Information Centre and the request for details of roadside tubs for a
Director of Museum in conjunction with the forthcoming IRS publication. I will still be
Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway office, pleased to receive reports of any that
London and the Public Relations Officer members may know of. Details of each
FCAB, Chile and the Imperial War Museum. wagon and what it commemorates will be
The carriage was built for the 2’6” gauge especially welcome, as will photographs. All
Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway (order no. tubs and wagons must be on display in a
2945). It was a composite carriage which public place or as gate guardians of
means it was first and second class. It was museums, but those for which entry is
due for delivery on 29th April 1917 along
required will not be included.
with two more carriages. It arrived
damaged in its crate and was returned on
28th September 1917 to the supplier. Graham Feldwick
Much research was done to try to establish
when it arrived back in this country but no
information was found. The engraving on
one of the doors is still visible and is FCAB
which stands for Ferro Carril Antofagasta –
Bolivia. Winget Bowls Club:
(Left) the carriage body is now in use as a
Certainly a surprising survivor! changing room.
(Above) The FCAB engraved glass panel on
Martin O'Keeffe the end door.
Photos: Martin O’Keeffe
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
11Reviews
and reproduced in Paye. The market town was the limit of navigable
However there are two differences with river traffic on the River Blyth which flows
The Southwold Paye’s book. Firstly, there is a greater focus into the sea at Southwold.
Railway 1879- on the individuals and personalities who ran
1929: The Tale of a the railway. Secondly, the book looks in It starts with the Romans and their roads in
Suffolk Byway by detail at the Southwold Railway after the locality, briefly moving on to look at
David Lee, Alan closure and the many, unsuccessful, various attempts to make the River Blyth
Taylor and Rob attempts to revive it in various forms from more navigable before the coming of the
Shorland-Ball the 1930s through to the 1990s. These standard gauge Halesworth, Beccles and
included attempts in 1950s to relay the line Haddiscoe Railway in 1854 and later the
as a 15” gauge line very much like the Southwold Railway in 1879. The book also
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway and in the looks at the unsuccessful attempts of the
After relying on the Taylor & Tonks history 1960s to use redundant 2’ gauge equipment standard gauge Mid-Suffolk Light Railway to
for so many years, with the second edition from the Welsh slate quarries. The book extend into the town.
being published more than 40 years ago, concludes with a section bringing the story
three new books about the history of the right up to date with the work of both the The non-railway transport only covers a few
Southwold Railway have been published in Southwold Railway Trust and the pages but this is vital in understanding how
just over 6 months. This coincides with Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge the links to this market town developed.
interest in the restoration activities at both Railway Society in preserving the remains of Having said that, the majority of the book is
ends of the line. The first of the new books the railway and examining the prospects for about the Southwold Railway in and around
was Peter Paye’s “The Southwold Railway” revival. There are a number of photos the town, the wilderness years and also the
which was reviewed in NGN 349/10. The showing the line as it is today and the work recent efforts made by the Halesworth to
two new books reviewed here were both accomplished by both groups so far. Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Society
published in April 2019. (HSNGRS) to conserve and restore the
I found the book enjoyable, readable and remains of the Southwold Railway in the
“The Southwold Railway 1879-1929: The well researched. However, given the price area.
Tale of a Suffolk Byway” covers the same of this book and the overlap with the Paye
story, so there is much overlap in content book, the reader may wish to choose The book is profusely illustrated with a
with Paye’s book. This book is a between one or the other. number of maps. However some of the
collaborative venture: David Lee travelled illustrations have been enlarged from
on the line as 4 year old and in later years ISBN: 978-1-4738-6758-1, Hardback, A4, smaller originals and have become slightly
researched and gathered material while 248 pages. Published by Pen & Sword blurred and pixilated in the process. Other
living locally and Rob Shorland-Ball became Books, https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/ illustrations also appear in the more
familiar with the area over a number of price £35 weighty tome reviewed above and one even
years and also recorded data on the line. has a different and erroneous caption in this
Alan Taylor wrote a chapter on the coming Gerry Balding book which makes a misleading point.
of the railway based on David Lee’s
research papers. Thus the book is well An enjoyable read which puts the wider
researched and detailed. The reproduction transport issues into perspective. All
of period documents also makes for proceeds from the book will go to help the
interesting reading. Halesworth: A HSNGRS in restoring the Southwold Railway
Suffolk in the Halesworth area.
The book contains many sepia and colour, Transport Hub
as well as black & white, photos. Also, there by Rob Shorland- ISBN 978-1-5272-3769-8, Softback, A4, 36
are a number of maps which set the railway Ball pages. Published by the Halesworth to
in the geographical context of the area Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Society,
which had a major bearing on its history. available via their website
Generally the reproduction of these www.halesworthtosouthwold railway.co.uk
illustrations is good. However the price £10
locomotive, rolling stock and buildings
drawings are those which were previously This book concentrates on Halesworth’s Gerry Balding
published many years ago in Tonks & Taylor position as transport hub in rural Suffolk.
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
Southwold station.
Photo: Southwold Museum
12British and Irish Narrow Gauge - edited by Gerry Balding
Visit 30/06/2019 for the Staffordshire Steam
Gala.
This event was a rare opportunity to see the
unique Baguley Cars 0-4-0T Rishra visiting
from Leighton Buzzard to operate in the
county. The loco joined residents 0-4-0ST
Isabel, which the NGRS had a hand in getting
preserved back in 1953; 0-4-0T Diana; 0-4-
0ST Lorna Doone and 0-4-0ST Jennie fresh
from overhaul. The much travelled Kerr
Leonard at Abbey Pumping Station. Photo: Les Tindall Stuart Peter Pan was unfortunately not
finished in time to join them.
Abbey Pumping Station, Corporation Road, Sealed bids are once again being invited for
Leicester LE4 5PX (2’ gauge) this unique model. The auction will run until These operated throughout the weekend;
the end of September 2019 and bids must be Isabel and Diana generally on the passenger
Visit 23/06/2019. Bagnall 0-4-0ST Leonard received by the museum in writing by mid- train of two semi-open and one closed
(2087/1919) was in action while on display day on Monday, 30th September 2019. The carriage and brake van. An unusual
was MR 40SD (Simplex) Peter (515/1979). bids will then be examined and the winner innovation is the addition of microprocessor
Inside the shed were Lister (4088/1931) and notified on Wednesday 2nd October. Bid controlled railwash on the leading carriage to
Ruston 20DL (223700/1943). forms may be obtained using the download eliminate flange squeal and reduce wear.
link http://amberleynarrowgauge.co.uk/ The smaller locos worked goods trains
Les Tindall pdf/sealed-bid-form.pdf or by post on formed of RAF Fauld flats and open wagons,
receipt of an S.A.E. from Peter Trinder, c/o and RNAD van, flat and a ballast hopper
Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, Amberley Museum, New Barn Lane, which followed main line practice of PW
Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9LT (2’ gauge) Amberley, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT. wagons being named after fish by carrying
the name “Minnow” as befitted a narrow
The museum’s fundraising campaign to pay Website gauge vehicle.
for boiler repairs and mechanical work to its
2’ gauge 0-4-0ST Bagnall locomotive Peter Amerton Railway, Stowe-by-Chartley, The mid-way loop and siding held 0-4-0DM
received a significant boost last autumn with Staffordshire. ST18 0LA (2’ gauge) (Deutz 19531/1937) and 4wDMs (MR
a donation from a well-known model 7471/1940 and MR 40SD501/1975), which
manufacturer. Accucraft, who specialise in The Amerton Railway held its very successful performed at intervals with two bogie flats
large scale live steam model locomotives, Staffordshire Steam Gala over the weekend or six side tip wagons. A second loop at
have donated one of their ⅞” to the foot of 29th and 30th June 2019. Five Chartley Halt was used to cross trains.
scale (45mm gauge) Bagnall saddle tank Staffordshire-built locos were in steam
models for the museum to sell by sealed bid including our special guest Burton-on-Trent Two more steam locos are on site, the
auction. The model being auctioned is a one- built Rishra (BgC 2007/1921) visiting from frames of DFB 526 0-8-0T (Hen14019/1916)
off version of their standard model, Leighton Buzzard for the first time. The home were in the workshop as a long term
customised to look like Peter (without a cab) fleet comprised Bagnall Isabel restoration project and 3’ gauge 0-4-0ST (WB
and finished in the Crimson Lake livery (WB1491/1897), Kerr Stuarts Diana (KS 1889/1911) was at the back of the shed in
currently carried by the full size locomotive 1158/1917) and Lorna Doone (KS 4250/1922) very poor condition after many years of
at Amberley. The standard model usually and Statfold-built Wren Jennie (HE outdoor storage before arriving here.
retails in the region of £1200. 3905/2005), the latter having just completed
its 10-year overhaul. A variety of passenger Amerton has a very relaxed atmosphere with
The Museum staff, trustees and volunteers and goods trains were run, and the running line in open fields with trees, a
are extremely grateful to Graham Langer and demonstration shunts undertaken on our pond and sheep to enhance the rural scene.
Ian Pearse of Accucraft for this generous industrial railway, each day concluded with a The locos and rolling stock are immaculately
contribution to our fundraising campaign. line-up of some of Staffordshire's finest! turned out and the friendly welcome from
Initially the auction was put in place at the volunteers made the day a real pleasure,
end of 2018 but no bids reached the reserve The railway’s next Gala is on 14th and 15th while the smart train control and prompt
which we placed on it. A re-examination of September 2019, our Everything Goes Gala, engine changes demonstrated a really
the idea has resulted in the decision to when everything that can, will go! professional operation.
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
relaunch the sale but with a reserve now set
at £700.00. John Strike Mike Swift
Amerton Light Railway: (Left) The end of gala line-up at Amerton (Left to Right): Rishra, Jennie, Lorna Doone, Isabel and Diana.
Photo: John Strike. (Right) Deutz 4wDM (19531/1937) with a train of skips. Photo: John Moore
13Apedale Valley LR: (Above left) Morning steam-up for Hunslet 303 and Kerr Stuart “Joffre” (Above right) Motor Rail 1320 was perhaps the most bizarre
performer, now restored with a high cab as fitted by Inns & Co. Photos: Mike Swift
(Below left) 0-4-0T Edgar.(Below right) Tim hauling a train on the original Moseley Railway. Photo: Moseley Railway Trust
Apedale Valley Light Railway, Newcastle- Ploughshares Gala”. This event was a logical modified (MR 1320/1930) with its home-
under- Lyme, Staffs. (2’ gauge) sequel to the three highly successful “Tracks made high cab. More modern examples were
to the Trenches” events held in 2014, 2016 21 (MR 8069/1941) and (FH 2306/1940) all
Edgar, the new-build Decauville 0-4-0T has and 2018 and featured WDLR equipment working trains of timber bogies, open and
returned from Whaley Bridge where teething which entered industrial service in Britain flat wagons, and side tippers. The popular
troubles were ironed out. and overseas after 1918. “Drive a Loco” featured RH 193974/1938.
It is remarkable that so much century-old
Work has now started on the restoration of Naturally the most important item for me equipment has survived to be restored to
Ruston & Hornsby 25/30hp 4wDM was 4-6-0T 303 (Hunslet 1215/1916) back operation, and a credit to the Moseley
(191658/1938) which arrived at Apedale in from the Welsh Highland gala where it Railway Trust, the AVLR team and fellow
summer 2018. It has been stripped to a bare impressed staff and visitors alike. I still find it enthusiasts who have brought it all together.
frame with a new set of wheels purchased to hard to believe this is the gaudy loco I found
go under it. New axleboxes and springs have in 1983 at the Rowes Bay Children’s Home in Mike Swift
been made and, most importantly, it now Queensland!
has a running 3VSH engine. The Moseley Railway Trust will be entering
This shared operations with 104 0-6-0WT (HC its second half century in 2019! Way back in
The second ex-FR coach, FR 120, which 1238/1916) and “Joffre” 0-6-0T (KS 1969, a school teacher had the idea of
arrived in June 2019, will require substantial 3014/1916), both restored from an even building a railway as an educational project.
overhaul and modification before it can more decrepit state and the new-build The school was at Cheadle, near Stockport.
enter service. This includes fitting air brakes, Decauville replica 0-4-0T Edgar (NBES The first railway consisted of a few yards of
rewiring, lowering couplings, and repainting. 004/2017) carrying Decauville plate 684. track, a tramcar converted from a wagon
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
A wheelchair-friendly doorway may be our This was the only steam loco light enough to used at a brickworks, and a horse called
biggest task. work on the field railway with a train of side “Tim” who provided the motive power. The
tippers. With temperatures up to 32°C, it was railway moved to another, nearby, school in
The Newcastle-under-Lyme Civic Society has no surprise to find it stopped by the ice 1970. The intervening years have seen a
awarded us a grant of £15,000 to assist in cream tricycle while its crew enjoyed a cool rollercoaster ride - and not just from the
the purchase of the land on which our new snack! state of the track laid on the school playing
museum will sit. We are grateful for and fields! The school railway closed in 1998, and
thrilled with this award as it greatly simplifies Trains to Apedale Road alternated between the organisation subsequently re-located to
the Trust's financial situation and allows the passenger set of Hudson toastrack, FR Staffordshire and created today’s Apedale
other projects to move forward, one of saloon 117, Penrhyn coach H and a brake Valley Light Railway.
which is to provide additional undercover van, and a freight set of USA and Pêchot
accommodation for our ever-growing bogie wagons. The Trust will mark its golden anniversary
collection of locomotives and rolling stock. with a major event at Apedale on 21st and
The field and trench railways were the 22nd September. Highlights will include at
Moseley Matters 94 preserve of Motor Rail “Simplex” locos, with least one visiting steam locomotive – a
20 h.p. LR 2832 (MR 1111/1918), protected Stafford-built Bagnall named Kidbrooke and
Visit on 29/06/2019 for the “Swords to 40 h.p. LR3090 (MR 1369/1918) and much the debut of 2017-built steam loco Edgar on
14passenger services. For one weekend only,
and subject to completion of the necessary
approvals work, visitors will be able to ride
on the normally non-passenger Field
Railway. This operation will aim to re-create
the experience of passenger trains back at
the school railway in Cheadle – small diesel
locos hauling coaches converted from
industrial wagons.
Negotiations are also continuing to bring a
further, very special, guest loco to the event.
MRT50 will take place on 21st and 22nd
September. The event will be open from
10.30 until last admission at 4pm. Admission
will be £6 adults, £3 children. Further details Beamish Museum: Glyder with a goods train waits for a traction engine to pass.
will be published, when available, on the Photo: Paul Jarman, Beamish Museum
Trust’s website at www.avlr.org.uk and on
the MRT Facebook page. Our recently arrived Schöma diesel, John with Hunslet 0-4-0ST Winifred (364/1885)
Murphy, is seeing regular use and is now and Avonside 0-4-0ST Ogwen (2066/1933).
Press Release sporting a fetching shade of deep blue with Full details of the restoration work can be
yellow ends. While it is acquiring many coats found at:
Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd. of primer paint, it is yet to be decided exactly http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2019/0
(1’ 11⅝” gauge) what its final combination will be. 6/glyder-returns-to-steam/
The Gala always tries to feature one or two The Carriage & Wagon Team has been busy Samson (Lewin replica 0-4-0 WTG) will be
visiting locomotives and this year, the Kerr, on the refurbishment of the signal box. We visiting the Richmond Light Railway in Kent
Stewart “Joffre” on loan from the Apedale have completed the fascia boards on the for their open day on 17th August. With the
Valley Railway did not disappoint. There gable end. Removal of these barge boards expectation of needing to move Samson
were many photographers around for the highlighted that the slates were glued to the more often, a cradle has been manufactured
weekend and the BLR scheduling did them old ones! Next on the agenda is to make new which will enable the locomotive to be lifted,
proud. barge boards as well as improving the way rather than ramped (with a long rear
the slates are attached! overhang and very tight ground clearance,
Many trains were double-headed and on top this presents challenges).
of that, all the red locos, Maid Marian On 29th July, the replica Penrhyn Coach was
(Hunslet 822/1903), Alice (Hunslet 780/1902) finally moved from Somerset. It arrived at The paintwork on the “Wellington Coach” is
and George B (Hunslet 680/1898) were Llanuwchllyn and was moved on to a flat being completed. This is a narrow gauge
coupled together for one service. The wagon. It still awaits its axle-boxes but on version of a standard gauge vehicle used for
traditional Saturday evening cavalcade receipt of those, they will be fitted and the conveying the Duke of Wellington during a
featured five locos in steam, including coach will then be introduced to its wheels. visit to Seaham Docks in the 1850s. The roof
Winifred (Hunslet 364/1885) and the is also progressing, with the brass supporting
“Joffre”, and they were duly sent off down to The new Bala Station site, which was cleared standards now completed. There are even
the bottom of Dolfawr Bank. After months ago, was given a good mowing cushions for this very well appointed (but
preparations, the locos then made a spirited during June after the naturally sown grass draughty!) coach.
ascent of the bank some yards apart. The had grown rather enthusiastically. While we The Pew coach is waiting on couplings, thus
photographers loved the whole spectacle. are not yet in a position to start building, completing our new-build narrow gauge
neatness on the site shows serious intent. programme (for now!). The BINGE (Beamish
What they also loved is a new BLR tradition Industrial Narrow Gauge Engineers) group of
on Gala weekends, namely the ‘Llangower Website volunteers will continue with the restoration
Three Train Shuffle’. The unfortunate of rolling stock however, as there are still
signalman at Llangower Loop had to Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham three Ffestiniog Railway granite waggons to
accommodate two passenger services DH9 0RG. (2’ gauge) complete.
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
arriving from opposite directions, which is
On June 19th 2019, 0-4-0WT Glyder (Barclay
easy enough, but with the photo-freight in Beamish Transport Blog
1994/1931) returned to railway operation for
the mix too. Very accurate train control from
the first time since 1965. There remain one
the three drivers, combined with excellent Brecon Mountain Railway, Pant Station,
or two jobs to tackle, but we are very
timing on the part of the over-worked Merthyr Tydfil. CF48 2DD (1’ 11¾” gauge)
pleased with the outcome and can look
signalman, meant that the photographers, as
forward to the locomotive becoming a Visit 09/07/2019: The yellow timetable of
well as those armed with video cameras and
regular part of the Beamish scene in the three return services was being worked by
not forgetting the numerous bystanders, had
years to come. 2-6-2 No.1 Santa Teresa. The locomotive was
a proverbial ball. As always, we send a huge
built as a 600mm gauge 2-6-0 (Baldwin
note of thanks to all the staff and volunteers
Originally named Grey, Glyder is better 15511/1897), one of four similar locos
who helped to make the Gala such a success.
known by its Welsh name, for it had spent supplied to the Companhia Mogiana de
most of its working life within the expansive Estradas de Ferro in Brazil for work in a
Holy War (Hunslet 702/1902) is still in the
slate workings of Penrhyn Quarry in North coffee plantation. It was sold on (the exact
middle of its massive ten year strip-down.
Wales. In 1965 it was part of a large date is unknown) to the sugar mill Usina
This is obviously a highly detailed operation
shipment of narrow gauge engines which Santa Teresa, where it was re-gauged to 2’ 6”
with everything being taken apart and
headed across the Atlantic to the USA, being and where rail operations ceased in 1976.
inspected.
repatriated to the UK in early 2012 along
15Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, Bredgar, Kent, ME9 8AT.
(2’ gauge)
Visit 07/07/19 for the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway Gala weekend.
There were five locos in steam. They were: No.1 Bronhilde 0-4-0WT
(Schwarzkopf 9124/1927), No.3 Lady Joan 0-4-0ST (Hunslet
1429/1922), No.6 Eigiau 0-4-0WT (O&K 5668/1912), No.7 Victory
0-4-2T Decauville 246/1897) and No.9 Limpopo 0-6-0T (Fowler
18800/1930). Also in traffic were two diesels: No.13 Lyne CHL-30G
(Schoma7037/1936) and No.5 Bredgar 4wDH (Bagnall-Drewry
3775/1983).
The running line at Bredgar is under one mile in length but what it
may lack in distance it more than makes up in location. It is in a
lovely rural setting and is ideal for lineside photography and/or
Brecon Maountain Railway: (Above) No. 1 Santa Teresa leaving Pant picnics. It is not a preserved line but was built from scratch starting
with the fully-loaded 12.30 for Torpantau on 9th July. in 1975 by enthusiasts and has been steadily developed over the
(Below) TU7 1698 shunting in the yard at Pant. years to its current impressive state.
Photos: Donald Brooks.
It has a collection of 10 steam locos and a number of diesels, most, if
not all, in working order. The engine shed can be visited for
photography and viewing, and there is a collection of smaller locos
of various gauges plus traction engines, vintage tractors, a steam-
driven beam engine, a Dutch street organ and a variety of rolling
stock. There is also an excellent LGB model railway.
One of the loveliest and friendliest locations I have visited.
John Moore
The locomotive was brought to the UK in 1990 and was sold in 2002
to the Brecon Mountain Railway. It was decided to scrap the boiler
and cab. The tender was also beyond repair. The loco has been
completely rebuilt retaining the original cylinders, main-frame, valve
gear and some of the running gear. The loco has been converted
from a 2-6-0 to a 2-6-2. The boiler, smokebox, cab, wheels, axles,
rear subframe, rear truck, front pilot and new tender were all been
built in the workshops at the Brecon Mountain Railway. It re-entered
service in June 2019.
Bredgar and Wormshill LR: (Above) Victory with a passenger train.
Trains were running through to Torpantau and the locomotive (Below) Lady Joan tops and tails a train with Eigiau.
produced impressive sound effects on the 1 in 37 climb to the Photos: John Moore
terminus. I travelled on the 14.30 departure, but arrived at Pant just
Narrow Gauge News 354 September 2019
in time to see the 12.30 leave. This service was full and potential
passengers were being turned away. Although the train stopped for
thirty-five minutes at Pontsticill on the return journey, the
opportunity to view the locomotives stored here was not offered on
this occasion and all the sheds were securely locked.
Adding to the international atmosphere was Soviet Bo-Bo DH TU7
1698, built Kambarka 1981, which was shunting at Pant when the
service train returned at about 16.10. The locomotive apparently
came from a Latvian peat line.
In the shed/works at Pant was 0-6-2WT Graf Schwerin-Löwitz, Jung
1261 of 1908, built for the Mecklenburg-Pommersche
Schmalspurbahn as their number 5 and ultimately becoming DR 99
3353.
Donald Brooks / additional information Brecon Mountain Railway
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