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NSR New L No 2

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Glenalmond, Apr 16, 2016.

  1. Glenalmond

    Glenalmond Member

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    The Foxfield Railway Trust based at Blythe Bridge will receive on Wednesday 13th April the last surviving North Staffordshire Railway design steam locomotive from the National Collection, currently housed at the National Railway Museum. The 64 ton “New L” class 0-6-2 T was built in Stoke and dates from the 1920’s.

    Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator at the National Railway Museum, said: “The National Railway Museum feel that the Foxfield Railway is a very appropriate home for the locomotive as it is a locally significant item built in Stoke and fits in with the growing collection of North Staffordshire Railway rolling stock at the railway. In addition, it fits the industrial and colliery railway ethos of the Staffordshire attraction, whose profile has been significantly raised by the activities of the Knotty Coach Trust. “

    The Foxfield Trust are delighted that this iconic locomotive has been able to return to its birth place where it will be housed in the museum building and put on immediate display.

    Operating all over the North Staffordshire Railway system including the Potteries loop line the Locomotive was absorbed into the London, Midland & Scottish railway in 1923, continuing in use until 1937. Local duties would have undoubtedly included working to the Foxfield Railway exchange sidings at Blythe Bridge, returning empty coal wagons for replenishment at the colliery and taking full loads away for use by local industry.

    In 1937 the locomotive was sold to the Manchester Collieries Ltd where it worked heavy coal trains around the Walkden Area until 1965. In 1960 however a break from its colliery duties took place when it was restored as NSR no 2 and was displayed in Stoke goods yard to participate in the Jubilee celebrations of the City of Stoke-on-Trent, the livery was retained when the locomotive returned to the NCB.

    Preservation at Shugborough Hall in 1967 and more recently as part of the NRM’s collection at Shildon the Locomotive now has a new chapter opening up as Foxfield plan a series of events this year to welcome the engine home. The locomotive is to undergo detailed assessment before a full restoration to working order takes place.

    The locomotive will be on display at its new home for the first time on Sunday 24th April, the date coinciding with the first run this year of the Knotty Heritage Train behind Bellerophon.
     
  2. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    Great news for the Foxfield, nice to see NSR locos and stock (albeit from different eras) coming together.

    Sent from my HTC Desire 620 using Tapatalk
     
  3. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Fantastic news, and the best bit - it can't be painted into BR black!! :D Seriously though, very much looking forward to seeing this in steam one day, brilliant it has a plan now. If the knotty coaches were one day painted in Madder lake (and I have no idea if it will ever be on the cards - I'd like it to be) it could be a complete matching train, just about. I'd certainly love to go and help and wield a brush.
     
  4. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    Brilliant news!
     
  5. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    totally logical home, good move.
     
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  6. Gav106

    Gav106 Well-Known Member

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  7. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    Wonderful news. I saw it in 1960, when my father took me to see it at Stoke, together with the divine 46254, "City of Stoke - on - Trent," which, for some reason, the city failed to buy when it was offered to them. They just bought the nameplate, unlike Birmingham.

    I hope I live to see it steam. I will look out for the donation request, Foxfield.

    All the best,

    jtx
     
  8. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    When did it last steam? And when was the last time an NRM chose to steam a "new" loco as opposed to overhaul one that they had already steamed?
     
  9. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    No2 (aka Princess and carrying King George's worksplates IIRC) is really a bit of a 'mongrel' having had it's replacement (Hunslet) boiler placed on Sir Robert's chassis at its last rebuild in 1964. I believe it was withdrawn in August 1965. It won't be a cheap rebuild as the tyres were at or near to scrapping size when it last worked. Strangely Sir Robert, presumably on Princess' chassis worked on for another couple of years.
    Would the last NRM loco to be 'newly' restored be the Beattie well tank?
    Ray.
     
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  10. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    I wonder why it was withdrawn so soon after this major surgery?
     
  11. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    probably because it was a typical industrial lash up overhaul rather than a thorough job. It was an industrial for decades remember
     
  12. Avonside1563

    Avonside1563 Well-Known Member

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    No.2/aka No.72 has arrived at Foxfield after passing by Stoke station, close to her birthplace. She will be on display this Sunday along with the first outing of the Knotty coaches for 2016
     
  13. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Yes, that is what I was wondering.
     
  14. Gav106

    Gav106 Well-Known Member

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  15. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  16. mache

    mache New Member

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    I saw her on several on several occasions going under the A580 bridge working on the Sandhole colliery line and was always immaculate visually
     
  17. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Well done guys, going to have to find time to come and visit you this year (again..!).
     
  18. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Just been reading some interesting stuff on Facebook. There seems to be a suggestion from a Trustee of the Foxfield railway who says that the Loco's ownership has been passed to the Foxfield railway trust and is no longer part of the National collection? Anyone know anymore?

    It's not that I don't believe them as such, just that it would be highly unusual for the NRM to do this as usually such deals are long term loans with the item remaining part of the national collection and unless I've missed it somewhere it's the first I have heard of it. @Anthony Coulls maybe you could provide clarification of the situation?

    Cheers

    Pete
     
  19. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Actually the NCB's Walkden central workshops did a quality job but the locos often went down fast after they were returned to their respective collieries. In the case of No2 I wonder if the better chassis was put under Sir Robert as it was expected to work on longer whilst No2 was expected to become a static exhibit in the National Collection within a year or so. Pure speculation on my part. IIRC Sir Robert was thought to be earmarked for preservation at Steamtown after withdrawal but, of course, that never happened and it was cut up at the Central Workshops.
     
  20. Anthony Coulls

    Anthony Coulls Well-Known Member

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    Yes, we have transferred ownership of No.2 to the Foxfield Railway Trust
     
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