Chevalier

Does anyone know the current whereabouts of this loco, formally at bowaters and whipsnade, also the current owner? also conqueror from the same location

 

Chevallier is at the Flour Mill for a heavy overhaul.

From their website: "Chevallier:
On behalf of the Whitecliff Improvement Company we are undertaking a heavy general overhaul of the 2’ 6” gauge Manning Wardle (#1877) 0-6-2 Chevallier, supplied new to the Admiralty in 1905."

 

She's been discussed recently on the WLLR yahoo group - apparently 'chav' is under overhaul at the Flour Mill, possibly to be exported to work on a line in Romania.

Chris

 

I hope she isnt, one of my favourite locos and it really should stay in this country

 

I couldn't agree more.

Alas, not too many places for her to be of use at about 27 tons and about 10,000 TE, she is a well built piece of kit.

Not too shabby in the looks department either.(Apart from perhaps the chimney!)

I remember her visit to the W&L many years ago.

Let us keep our fingers crossed that she doesn't dissapear off the radar all together.

R

 

It is an interesting coincidence that Chevallier should be possibly going to Romania, when Whipsnade Zoo, where Chevallier resided for maybe three decades, now uses one of the few Romanian locos in the country.

(I'm spelling the name with two 'l's, which I believe is right, but I've seen it both ways in equal measure. Can anyone categorically state which is correct, Chevalier or Chevallier?)

Incidentally, does anyone know if Chavallier ever actually worked at Whipsnade?

 

Chevallier did work at Whipsnade, and left in 2006 i think. There is a brilliant book by Cliff Thomas on the Great Whipsnade Railway which is worth a read. Published by Oakwood Press.

Would she be a useful loco to use at Welshpool? It would be a shame if she does leave!

Rob

 

I thought that myself, quite a hilly line at welshpool, well suited to her size and power!

 

be great if she visited Sittingbourne as well, when they re-open! And Statfold!

 

What Romanian loco is in use at Whipsnade?

I remember Chevaller working at Welshpool, it was a very big loco even by W&L standards and looked very imopressive. I had a double headed trip behind it but didn't manage a solo run.
It would be a shame if it went to Romania but it might be the only place where it would see regular work as I doubt it would fit round Statfold's curves and the W&L don't really need it.

 

I think the Lyd2 diesel thats is/was at Whipsnade was built in romania?

 

If they need somewhere to run it in, no problems!

Henry
Statfold Barn Railway

 

Just to let you know Ken 'Chevallier' is the correct spelling thats 2 L's.

And im not sure if she did work at Whipsnade if she did it was only for a short period of time.

 

She certainly worked at Whipsnade, quite extensivly in the 90s and there are several photographs to prove it in Cliffs book. She was in actuallity the first loco to operate at Whipsnade and whilst Superior and Excelsior are more suited to the loads and more economical she was well liked and was run often.

 

Speaking strictly in a personal capacity, There are some W&LLR members who might disagree with you there....

Andrew C

 

The UK needs another 2' 6" line I think...

 

Fantastic! As a W&L life member I'd love to see it come to Llanfair, the more the merrier!

 

The UK needs less preserved railways I think...

 

Well whatever happens, i hope she stays in the uk, far too many of your locos have gone abroad the in the last 50 years.