Kerr Stuart Wren @ Aberystwyth

Walking past the VoR shed at Aberystwyth today on my lunchtime stroll I noticed parked up behind one of the VoR tanks what looked like a Kerr Stuart Wren loco. It was painted grey but I couldn't se it properly as the diesel was also parked in the way. It was still there this evening when I drove home but it was pitch black. I'll take my camera tomorrow and try and get a photo if it's still there.

Anyone know what it might be and what it's doing there?

 

It's Kerr Stuart Wren 3114, formerly at Gloddfa Ganol and now part of the Rampton Trust collection, restored a few years ago and appeared at an Amerton Railway gala. Now resident at Aberystwyth.

 

Thanks Anthony. Interesting to see something different down here.

 

How many of the 'Collection X' have been returned to steam and run? Is this the only one?

 

I believe that some of the collection was steamed during the early years (60s/70s) but the Wren is the only loco to have steamed recently.

Incidentally word on the grapevine is that Peter Rampton is looking at quotes for a new boiler for another loco from the collection - take it with a pinch of salt if you wish!


Charlie

 

The loco was been bought out of storage from Capel Bangor shed down to the Aber shed for a tidy up and general maint ready for a date with the boiler inspector

 

Is there any likelihood of this Wren working a special on the VoR? Presumably same gauge!

 

Been looking on the internet and I can find references to it working at Amerton in 2002 but nothing since then. Has it been sat in the shed at Capel Bangor for the last 7 years?

 

It's been sat in Capel bangor shed for a while but i remember it from before i started on the Rheidol sat at the east end of the Aber shed that was the year that Ian Rilleys black 5 last ran into Aber. As for working a special i can't see it happening we had to be careful getting it across the points the day we bought it back to Aber shed, i suppose it will end up in the museum when its built.

 

A lot of this was discussed in an earlier thread - Margaret - ex. Penrhyn Quarry – and those of you who didn’t see it might be interested.

There was a rumour circulating that 3114 might be loaned out for visits sometime in the future. 3114 was rebuilt at Amerton by Alan Civil, who, apart from being the owner/builder of the lovely little inverted saddle tank “Pearl”, is also a trustee of the Phyllis Rampton NG Trust. “Pearl” is currently at the Golden Valley L R, so that or Amerton might be possible venues for it to appear.
As for it running on the VoR – NO. Apart from Peter Rampton stating, some time ago, that only original stock would run on the VoR, 3114 is 24 inch gauge not 23½ inch. Hence the care needed when manouvering it at Capel Bangor.
As far as I know it is the only member of the VoR Heritage stock/”Collection X” to have been run anytime in the forseeable past.
The boiler order mentioned is probably the one for “Margaret”, whose rebuild is progressing very slowly and, I understand, is only worked on when time allows between the normal work required to keep the VoR stock running.
If anyone knows of any other possible “works” being carried out on the heritage stock, I would love to hear about it, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I have been trying to follow the sory of this collection for about 40 years and I’m not a lot wiser as regards to it, as I was then.

Ian

 

alan civil no longer owns pearl 2 iirc reading somewhere

 

Thanks, Jud. I'll see if I can find the source for that and find out where she's gone.

Ian

 

Eddie Draper and his wife at Butterley have bought the loco and renamed it, it was in the mags last month I think.

 

If that's a reference to my earlier post - the word on the grapevine suggests the boiler quote is not for Margaret, which already has her new boiler, but for another Rampton loco; but as before, take it with a pinch of salt if you wish!

Charlie

 

I know that the wren has been offered to one railway in the South West of England for loan in 2010 but they declined as they had another offer (can't tell you which).

But I think that was a one off and I'd be surprised to see her visting anywhere else.

 

The boiler for Margaret is finished, has been done a while as far as I know. Made by Woodbines of Chesterfield. A superb job.

The old copper forebox was still there when I went last, to fetch a tubeplate. It had been patched in its life. The patch is truly a work of art.

 

the boiler possibly for syibl at BMr

 

I seem to recall something about the Bagnall that they brought from Hong Kong was going to be restored rather rapid

Ian

 

Except Sybil is not part of the Rampton Collection!

Though an A1 source indicates she is likely to be getting a new boiler & be returned to steam.

C

 

I have heard the same tale charles from a rahter good source too