NSR New L No 2

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.

 

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

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Fantastic news, and the best bit - it can't be painted into BR black!! 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.

 

Brilliant news!

 

totally logical home, good move.

 

Fantastic. Glad she will be steamed!

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

I wonder why it was withdrawn so soon after this major surgery?

 

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

 

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

 

Yes, that is what I was wondering.

 

Had Cheltenham steamed in preservation before?

 

She steamed very briefly in 1980 round about the time of the Rainhill 150 celebrations.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83763404@N07/9859624445/ (Not my photo)

Tom

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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