Great Escapes

Another lucky escapee from the scrapman during the First World War is GER 0-4-0ST No.229. After withdrawal in 1916 the GER (then under Government control) were obliged to sell it to Fairfields Shipbuilders at Chepstow (also under Government control) where it remained in service until the 1950s. It was purchased by Bill Parker, cosmetically restored and displayed at the North Woolwich Station Museum until it closed a few years ago and is now at Bill's Flour Mill works, being restored to working order.

 

Can't wait to see that posed next to 92203!

 

I'm quoting this from memory (Most of my railway books have been packed as we're about to move house!), so please feel free to correct anything that isn't accurate, but I believe that the O1, No. 65, nearly succumbed to the scrapman at Ashford Works. A couple of hours of dismantling had already taken place when it received a last-minute reprieve as a Mr Lewis-Evans had bought it. I's be interested to know if the scrapmen then repaired the bits they had already cut through.

 

Same loco had a funny turn of a different sort a few years later. Bailiffs were due to arrive and take items from the closed Ashford Steam Centre, so 65 was dismantled in a bit of a rush and distributed across Kent to be hidden... For many years it was seen as 'a loss to preservation':

I think the rods were welded back together but had to be replaced by Bluebell when it was restored in 1999ish.


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I knew a few of the characters surrounding the 01 story and the monumental diplomacy involved in getting it to SP. The rods were cut by BR when it was withdrawn and welded back together when it was first preserved at Ashford. Although suitable for shuffling up and down at Ashford with a Pullman when it came to SP they were replaced.

The row at Ashford came as BR refused to renew the lease at nascent steam centre when it was due for renewal. However the owner of the stock refused to move out and stalemate was the result.

Despite many attempts to get him to shift it he repeatedly refused to contact the BR Property Board or play ball so they called the baliffs in. They were responsible for ensuring the site was cleared and recovering assets to the value of the debt now incurred (i.e. unpaid rent and legal costs etc). This is when the DD motor coach was torched. The jewel in the collection was the 01 which was dismantled and hidden across several sites in Kent. I believe a charge was put on the loco hence it went to ground. I don't think it was ever a lost loco as several people kept in contact with Esmond and knew where it was. Only by 'playing the diplomat' would it ever resurface once the heat was off so to speak.

Roll on many years later despite the initial open hostility towards Bluebell by the owner much diplomacy was carried out, led by a chap who volunteered at Ashford and then the Bluebell C&W. It resulted in the 01 coming out of hiding. A birdcage brake and Pullman also went to Bluebell for storage and both are in very poor condition now despite being complete at Ashford. The full brake and last surving DD motor coach remain at Swann Farm in Sellindge. The DD is really beyond it now and the birdcage and Pullman both would need complete reconstruction. Fortunately the 01 was repaired and became a reliable loco and its (believe its the spare) boiler is now at a contractor being repaired, financed by the keeping up the pressure appeal.

 

That sounds about right, the 01's boiler, am i right in thinking that the H &C classes share the same design of boiler and that its a spare c class boiler thats being overhauled

 

I believe so. Think the 01 is still in one bit. Haven't been down for a while but haven't heard otherwise. The malarky with the 01 involved a few characters I knew really well and remember the story. I also met Esmond a few times when we had the traction engine at the Sellindge steam fayre. Intersting old character who managed to cause a diplomatic incident with my wife and her best friend (sooooo a different story!)

 

The H and O1 share a boiler (along with assorted other SECR types). The C is a bit bigger.

The boiler currently being overhauled at the Flour Mill is a spare that belongs to the railway and I believe originally came off a rebuilt LCDR 0-4-4T, and was subsequently used as a stationary boiler. I assume it was originally bought as a spare for the H class, but it will fit the O1 after a minor modification to adjust the position of the boiler support brackets. The O1 itself is still complete and in one piece, but will enter the works for overhaul and fitting the spare boiler when space is available: that is likely to be later this summer once Camelot is finished.

Tom

 

Also some parts taken to premises near Cambridge.

 

Another couple of locos that would qualify as "great escapees" are panniers 4612 and 6430. Both were bought for spares - the former from Barry to help keep 5775 running at Haworth and the latter direct from BR to join 6412 and 6435 at Buckfastleigh. I think that 6430 had bent frames and back in the 1960s, this was considered enough to render it unrestorable. Thankfully, things are very different now.

I'd love to hope that 5227 might live to fight another day. It has gone to (I think) Didcot to provide parts for various new-build projects, but has so far been spared the fate of 2861 and 4115. OK, it's little more than a shell, but it would be good if it could be left intact for a rainy day or perhaps a suitable buyer with deep pockets.

 

Not Steam but Deltic 16 was bought for spares for Deltic 22. Suprised nobodys mentioned 6023 or 45699 yet.

 

You could say 35028 Clan Line, as its said originally the MNLPS had wanted to purchase 35022 Holland-America Line but were advised to purchase 028!

 

Another Pannier with a lucky escape was 7760 wasn't it sold or about to be sold by London Transport and Pat Whitehouse couldn't bear to see it cut up and bought it.

 

My mistake the perils of not looking before you post!

 

Wasn't a fireless also cut up at Ashford?

 

Sorry to go off topic slightly but wasn't 45110 based at Ashford for a while? Only for a short while