The Railway’s ‘Green Dragon’ As 52044 this engine became subject to one of the earliest private locomotive purchase schemes established in the country and was one of the earliest arrivals on the nascent KWVR. Affectionately known as ‘The Green Dragon’ in ‘The Railway Children’ film, 957 is being restored to working order at Haworth with…
An archetypal constructors locomotive ‘Sir Berkeley’ served the industry for 72 years before being withdrawn in 1963. Too small for passenger duties, ‘Sir Berkeley’ is now owned by the Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) at Ingrow. Data File Built: 1891 Manning Wardle & Co.Boiler Pressure: 140 psiTractive Effort: 8,600 lbfWeight 19.2 tonsValve Gear: StephensonCylinders: 12”x18″ OutsideNumbers…
One of the oldest operational engines in preservation By far the oldest locomotive to find a home in the Worth Valley, after a lifetime of private colliery and NCB service, ‘Bellerophon’ found its way to the KWVR after being refused a home in Liverpool. Although in its heyday ‘Bellerophon’ was allowed out of the colliery…
A whole life spent on the dock system of the Manchester Ship Canal The Manchester Docks system, in Salford, now occupied by Media City, home of the BBC, was once an extensive railway operation running over 200 miles of track and a large fleet of steam locomotives. No. 31 served the dock system for over…
A tank engine for all seasons Whereas 5820 and 90733 were built for long-distance freight working, the military needed the standard design of engines to work in yards and military installations. The Austerity saddle tank design was the answer, with many lasting wells beyond the end of the war. A life of military service Although…
The engine that started it all January 1965 was a red-letter day for the emerging KWVR when the first engine to join the Railway arrived by road at Haworth. Numbered 51218 by BR, this diminutive saddle tank set the wheels in motion for what we have today. Its size precludes use on passenger trains but…
A surface life in Wales to Underground in London Arguably one of the most successful of the Great Western small tank designs, these versatile engines could be found at work all over the former Great Western system. Withdrawn by BR in 1963, 5775 found further use with London Transport before entering preservation away from its…
A life shunting from Bedford in the south to Workington in the north One of the first designs produced by the LMS, this useful 0-6-0 T, with origins dating back to the Midland Railway, were to be found all over the LMS system and lasted well into BR days. A hard shunter’s life to the…
An LMS engine from the GWR headquarters Prior to designing the WD (see 90733) the 8F was chosen as the standard heavy freight design for war work in WW2. 8Fs were built by all the major railway companies with no. 8431 being built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon in 1944. Although an LMS…
A Scottish survivor The tank version of the British Railways Standard Class 4 (see 75078), 80002 is another engine that escaped the cutters torch by the skin of its teeth, purchased directly from British Railways in 1969. 17 years with British Railways, 3 times longer with the KWVR Completed in 1952, 80002 worked its entire…
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