The First Steam Engine

Just a thought. How many STANDARD GAUGE lines have the very first steam engine that arrived in preservation still with them? I am pretty certain the Bluebell have, and maybe more besides. But just how many lines, for whatever reason, no longer host their "first"?

So, what was your line's first steam engine, and have you still got it?

 

Problem in a lot of cases is the 'first' will have been some Industrial readily availible while ex BR machines were still rusting hulks, moving the situation on 20 years, that loco is totally unsuitable for 8 coach trains over 15 or more miles....

Some are more fortunate mind, for example 7029 Clun Castle is still pretty suitable for Tyseley's needs even now.

 

In the case of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, the Line's first operational steam locomotive is still at Toddington in the form of 1925 built Avonside 0-4-0T Cadbury No 1, which hauled the 1st public trains back in April 1984. Cadbury is a bit of a special case however as it departed Toddington for Tyseley many years ago and only returned to the GWR last year in static condition. I believe it is being at least cosmetically restored again. Also, when running trains on the GWR, Cadbury No 1 actually belonged to the then Dowty Railway Preservation Society, that organisation having moved from Dowty's at Ashchurch in 1983. I always remember seeing the Train's headboard on that 1st memorable day in April 1984 which stated "22nd Year Dowty Railway Society" when it should have read "GWR Re-opening Train" or something more appropriate - I felt that it was very mean not being able to have a more appropriate headboard. The other thing that really hacked me off at the time (I was younger and more ignorant then!) was that this rather impressive looking maroon tank loco never made a noise - it just hissed all the time like a kettle on wheels. It never "barked" or sounded anything like a steam loco should - at least to me. Perhaps it was just the way it was driven. Shortly after the railway reopened, Cadbury was joined by another 0-4-0T but this time it was a Peckett 0-4-0ST No 1976. This was the 1st steam loco to be restored and to operate at Toddington and I think its still there, but in bits. It was finished in a GWR green livery as I believe some of these locos were in GWR service. The only other steam loco that has been with the GWR since inception is an 0-6-0 ST No 2409 built by Hunslet in 1942 and named King George. It is currently going through its second overhaul. 2409 is owned by the GWR and is usually loaned out to smaller railways these days. It is also in a maroon livery.

 

Swanage does, 80078. Albeit it took over 20 years to return it to traffic and its since done 10 years, but its still there.

It still also has the components of its first loco full stop (a petrol Planet), and the first diesel loco used on passenger trains.

 

That's the point I was trying to make David. I didn't care why that engine is no longer there, simply what it was. Yes, a lot will be industrials. That interests me just as much, if not more, than ex-BR engines. I was solely interested in what the first engine to arrive on each site was, if you see what I mean.

 

J15 and B12 where first on the nnr in june 1967. Although the first operational industrial is no longer on the line

 

Although not at the original location, Lucy and Efficient were the first engines into Steamport Southport and are now, I believe, at the Ribble Steam Railway which was born out of Steamport when the collection moved to Preston.

 

Middleton still has its first (diesel) loco and its first steam loco which, ironically for an industrial railway, was ex BR! The diesel was John Alcock (LMS 7401), which arrived on 14/6/60 and is in full working order, whilst the steam loco was ex BR Y1/2 Sentinel 0-4-0T no.54 (BR 68153). which arrived on 17/10/61. Alas, this isn't currently in working order.

 

Foxfield's first loco was Peckett 993/1903 Henry Cort which is still on the railway, albeit on display only as the firebox needs major repairs. The first diesel was Motor Rail 2262/1934 Helen which is also still on the rialway and undergoing cosmetic restoration.

 

Avon Valley Railway still has after nearly 30 years, the Avonside 0-6-0ST "Edwin Hulse" and AFAIK, a diesel 0-4-0 that came from a nearby factory.

 

The KWVR still has The pig presently stored unservicable but who knows whats going on

 

The 'Pig'?

 

Jordan is refering to the L & Y pug 51218, which is presently stored at Haworth. It will be overhauled once the L & Y 0-6-0 saddle tank overhaul has been completed.

 

6412 at the South Devon Railway, currently awaiting overhaul, but has been bumped up the waiting list.

 

the isle of wight still has the first steam engine to arrive at haven street Calbourne and whats more, it delivered its self and the stock and is due to be back in steam sometime this year, Invincible also is still there, but not in the same colour scheme it wore then

 

The Mid Hants still have 317874... albeit until 2014 when the owner is sure to remove this and the other locomotives he owns that are MHR residents, the second example of working steam on the line was WD 193 Errol Longsdale, this left for the SDR which has recently sold it on again.

Picture source - The Mid Hants

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/images/earlymhr/ch.old1.gif

 

Cadbury No 1 worked trains until at least the end of 1985 and I'm sure it worked 2-coach trains beyond Didbrook to the site of Hayles Abbey Halt. Indeed I have some video footage which proves this. As I say, I was less savvy about steam locos at the time but, unlike the 0-4-0ST Peckett, which seemed to make a decent "puff" when travelling exactly the same length of track, Cadbury just hissed. It really got my goat at the time, I don't know why! Perhaps there was a diesel engine between those 2 very large side tanks! I always thought that the Cadbury Bournville maroon livery with gold lettering and copper capped chimney looked very smart though. Still, those days are long gone. Last year I was able to witness the 0-6-0ST "Earl David" doing its stuff from Toddington to Cheltenham and, for a relatively small locomotive (although much bigger than the delightful little visiting "Terrier") my goodness you could hear its bark (the Hunslet that is, not the LBSC Terrier!).

 

The first main line steam loco at the GCR was Boscastle, which is currently under overhaul at Loughborough.