Dean Forest Railway

'Warrior' hasn't steamed, to the best of my knowledge, since 1979 so if the new owner has the means it might mark a joint 75th birthday and 50 years return to steam!

 

Let's pretend that the new owner restores Warrior, runs it at the Dean Forest for - say - 2 years, and then takes it away. I'd argue this is better for the Dean Forest than having it remain in bits in assorted bushes. And it's certainly better for preservation as a whole.

Even if the new owner restores it and immediately takes it away, I'd argue the Dean Forest is no worse off and preservation wins.

Unless you subscribe to the theory the Dean Forest - after decades - would suddenly about turn and restore Warrior, then I can't see any scenario they are actually worse off.

All sounds very sensible and grown up to me.

 

Given 'Warrior' has been at DFR for over 40 years the interesting question is why sell it now? Perhaps the market has spiked?
Anyhow, it'll be wonderful to see it again in steam. The last time for me was my 9th birthday and I had a footplate ride.

 

Perhaps as seen here in 1978.
Ray.

 

Thats certainly how I remember it Ray, arrived Bickershaw in 1977 ex Walkden works shunter, in exchange for Hurricane which went the other way.
The last time I saw it at Bickershaw was in the summer of 1983. It was off its wheels in the back of the loco shed. It had also been renamed 'Fred'. I don't believe it had been used since the diesels arrived in 1979 so how long it had been up on the timbers I don't know. It had also acquired the home made giesel chimney that had been fitted to 'Respite' previously, the rear of its own having rotted away like they tended to.
The other Austerity, "No.7", (actually No. 8) was in regular use in 1983 deputising for a diesel out of traffic for long term repairs.
The strike came the next year and I think both steam were disposed of during that period. The pit shifted over to MGR operation after the strike before closure so NCB loco use ceased.

 

Trying to work out which of the DFR Austerities Warrior is - there have been substantial parts of one in the siding next to the crossing just before St Mary's Halt on my last few visits, is that Warrior? There was another Austerity that I hadn't seen before in the sidings across the road at Lydney Junction as well when I was last there in October for the 50s, I wasn't sure of the identity of that one either.

Wilbert and Rennes were easy enough to identify!

 

'Warrior' was certainly in a dismatled state, as the press release says. 'Wilbert' is obviously in one piece as per the pic.
My guess as to the ID of the other Austerity you mention would be NCB 65, HE3889/64.
https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/hunslet-works-no-3889-ncb-65-0-6-0st/
I believe this to be owned in common with the two Austerities currently at KESR, one of which carries the boiler from 65. The same owner has 'Northiam' (now Sapper?) which was bought last year and transferred from KESR to LHR.

 

Good point.

Noel