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Sweet Indian Steam at Statfold Barn Railway, June 2022
2022 is the centenary year of the construction of the railway's locomotive “Alpha” and to celebrate this a special Indian themed weekend was held on the 11th and 12th June. In addition to Alpha, there was a special visit by Darjeeling Himalayan Railway locomotive no.19B, currently operated by the Beeches Light Railway in Oxfordshire.
“Alpha is an 0-6-0 Pannier Tank locomotive built by the Hudswell Clark Company in Leeds for use at the Riam sugar factory in Bihar, India. Rescued by the Statfold Barn Railway and restored to working order in 2016.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway locomotive no.19B is one of their Class B locomotives, of which 34 were built between 1889 and 1925, initially by Kerr Stuart and latterly by the North British Locomotive Company. 19B is one of the earliest, built in 1889, and is the only one to have left India. In preservation it has acquired a tender which gives a roomier (although still small!) working area for the crew.
A welcome visitor to the event – although not part of the Indian theme - was the Welsh Highland Railway's Beyer-Garratt locomotive, ex-Tasmanian Railways. It moved to Statfold in 2019 for possible further restoration, as at the time there was no prospect of its completion by the WHR. With the facilities at its disposal, Statfold was able to continue restoration quickly, and the locomotive entered service in September 2021.
The locomotive was built in 1909 by Beyer Peacock for the North East Dundas Tramway in Tasmania and was the world's first Garratt locomotive. After withdrawal in Tasmania it was purchased by Beyer Peacock for their museum collection, before finally moving to the Welsh Highland Railway which offered a suitable working environment.
“Alpha is an 0-6-0 Pannier Tank locomotive built by the Hudswell Clark Company in Leeds for use at the Riam sugar factory in Bihar, India. Rescued by the Statfold Barn Railway and restored to working order in 2016.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway locomotive no.19B is one of their Class B locomotives, of which 34 were built between 1889 and 1925, initially by Kerr Stuart and latterly by the North British Locomotive Company. 19B is one of the earliest, built in 1889, and is the only one to have left India. In preservation it has acquired a tender which gives a roomier (although still small!) working area for the crew.
A welcome visitor to the event – although not part of the Indian theme - was the Welsh Highland Railway's Beyer-Garratt locomotive, ex-Tasmanian Railways. It moved to Statfold in 2019 for possible further restoration, as at the time there was no prospect of its completion by the WHR. With the facilities at its disposal, Statfold was able to continue restoration quickly, and the locomotive entered service in September 2021.
The locomotive was built in 1909 by Beyer Peacock for the North East Dundas Tramway in Tasmania and was the world's first Garratt locomotive. After withdrawal in Tasmania it was purchased by Beyer Peacock for their museum collection, before finally moving to the Welsh Highland Railway which offered a suitable working environment.
Created: Sun, 12 Jun 2022, Updated: Sun, 12 Jun 2022
15 images use this description: (all images taken in 2022)
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