WD 132 Sapper

Had a visit to Totnes last week and saw 132 looking rather sorry for itself. Could anyone please give me some info on the engine as the SDR stock list only has a photo. Wondered when it last ran and if there are any plans for it in the future?

Thanks in advance

Adam

 

Evening,

Info from Continent, Coalfield and Conservation.

Hunslet 3163 of 1944. Delivered to Bicester, visited GWR Oxford for repair, Cainryan Military Railway, Stranraer 1950, then Longtown 1952, Bramley 1995, back to Bicester 1957, named Sapper 1959-61, Sold to Hunslet in 10/62. Rebuilt as 3885 of 1964 and loanded to NCB at Coventry, returned to Hunslet in 1966. Then to NCB Walkden workshops, named Alison, NCB Gresford 1970, NCB Bold 1974. renamed Joseph. One of the last steam engines operating in the UK. To Chatterley Whitfield Mining Museum and then to South Devon.

Unfortunately it and Errol Lonsdale have both fallen out of favour at the South Devon. Although they both kept the line going through the early post Dart Valley days are they now deemed unsuitable as they don't have a GW pedigree. A great shame as both were stars in their industrial days. Errol Lonsdale wore the fantastic LMR livery and starred in St Trinnians Great Train Robbery; Joseph was one of the last steam engines working in the UK and Hornby have produced a model of it.

Hope this helps fill the gaps. Shame the South Devon don't have the info on their stock list.

Cheers,

 

Such a shame with so many smaller lines looking for steam engines. If the SDR hired them out, could bring the railway another source of income in. Guess the railway do own Sapper and Errol Lonsdale?

 

They are definitley pernamentley based on the SDR - i.e not on hire or anything to us, but I can't remember if the trust owns them, I think they do own Errol and Sapper. From what I've been told, the one in the best condition is Errol, so I presume that would be the one to be done up first, although of course I'm not speaking on behalf of the owners here. I totally agree that they would be a great source of income if done up and hired out, for example maybe Dartmoor would like to hire it, if they wanted to have a steam loco that wouldn't be too far from home for work on it etc, although that is just speculation!

There is also Glendower currently at Buckfastleigh, which is privatley owned by a prominent volunteer and member of the workshop, so maybe the story will be different there, if they decided to do it up.

Also there is another industrial "Carnavon", owned by the Worcester Locomotive Society. I believe they surveyed that a little while ago for a possible overhaul back into service, but I'd imagine that their main concern next year will be 5786 when she comes to the end of her ticket.

It would be nice to have a working industrial steam loco on the SDR again, as they've got a lovely bark and are very useful engines, especially to be something like yard pilot during gala's. They are also a part of our history now and like what was said played a very important part in the running of the SDR in the early days.

 

Thanks very much for the info.

Adam

 

Ooops yes sorry got my lines crossed there, meant to say Dartmoor. This shows why it's not a good idea to plan gala visits and write on the forum at the same time #-o

 

Didn't know the South Devon had any J94s? There are two J94s preserved - one at the Spa Valley and the other I saw was last reported as heading to the K&ESR in Longmoor Blue! They have two Austerities at the South Devon and ironically these two industrials have far more interesting history than most BR shunters (LNER or not!).

Agree with the sentiments about being useful hire engines but read previously that the economics didn't add up. Hopefully though they won't be left to rot.

 

I'm sure they'd welcome donations and volunteers to support these forgotten Austerities...

 

...and it was the first locomotive I ever worked on at the Mid-Hants. Many years later I spent a very enjoyable couple of days reunited with it at the South Devon Railway as a guest of an SDR fireman friend of mine. Sadly it rather disgraced itself with a loose driving wheel spring buckle which temporarily curtailed our fun. I seem to remember that one or two bits 'borrowed' from Sapper got us back on the road....

It'll run again one day, I'm sure.

 

Well, it hasn't arrived yet! I do know where it is hiding, though.... 8-[

 

Unlike Sapper Errol Lonsdale is not 'industrial' - it went straight from Army service into preservation (and initially went to the K&ESR in Longmoor blue!)

 

Unlike Sapper Errol Lonsdale is not 'industrial' - it went straight from Army service into preservation (and initially went to the K&ESR in Longmoor blue!)

Although not industrial in the sense of manufacturing many people including the Industrial Railway Society (I would say the majority but I have no proof!) would consider WD, RAF, RN, MOS, and MOD etc engines as industrials. Afterall they mainly worked in industrial environments such as storage depots.

Cheers,

 

Fair enough - but I just had a vision of the massed ranks of the Wehrmacht facing up against - a battalion of Army 0-6-0STs in closed formation (and in camouflage of course, not Longmoor blue) - I wonder who would win!

 

On reflection I think I'll stick to my view that Army locos were not 'industrials' - they were far too clean!
best wishes

 

They weren't very clean when in active service during the war. Only when the army had more time on their hands did they get cleaned and when the final ones were kept as depot pets they were spotless.

 

I think the SDR would love to overhaul the Austerities and see them earning their keep elsewhere but there is pressure on workshop space. Currently 3205 and 1420 are being worked on and when they are complete there will be others in the current fleet to follow, 5786 for example, and that's without wondering where Dumbleton Hall will fit in. There is also the small matter of how much they will actually earn in hire fees compared to the cost of overhaul and the fact that the SDR would have to foot the bill first then wait for the income. Sapper was placed at Totnes partly as an advert and partly to add interest for waiting passengers.

I think if anyone would like to buy them and give them a good home the SDR might well be pleased to take your call.

 

Think the comment was more tongue in cheek than serious but in the loco notes in the latest SVR news the author says he would like to see a saddle tank purchased for driver training purposes.. [-o<