British loco pair set to steam for first time since repatriation
DEALS have been announced for two repatriated British-built narrow-gauge locomotives – including one recovered from a swamp – to be overhauled and returned to steam for the first time in the heritage era.
Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST No. 704 of 1899 Nesta is to be overhauled following its acquisition by the privately-owned 2ft gauge Richmond Light Railway at Headcorn in Kent.
Nesta, one of Hunslet’s four Penrhyn Small Quarry class locomotives, was withdrawn from service at the Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales in the 1960s. However, a 1965 news article about the end of steam in the Welsh quarries prompted an American antiques dealer to buy several locomotives from Dinorwic and Penrhyn quarries, including Nesta, for export. Nesta ended up at a railway/ mining museum in Puerto Rico, where the weather was allowed to take its toll.
In 2016, enthusiast Robert Gambrill found Nesta in a swamp, purchased it, and repatriated it to Britain. He placed it on display in as-saved condition at the Bala Lake Railway’s Llanuwchllyn Heritage Centre.
The Richmond Light Railway has drawn up outline plans for conservation work with the intention of returning Nesta to operable condition, while taking great care to conserve as much of the original as possible.
Mindful of Nesta’s original home at Bethesda, a decision has been made to work with the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways team at Boston Lodge in the coming years.
Initially, the locomotive will be transferred to the FR and should once more be on display to the public in its unrestored state. It will form part of the new display for the behind-the-scenes tours scheduled to commence this summer. Visitors will be able to see and discuss the work on the engine, from the earliest steps through to completion.
Physical work on the locomotive is unlikely to commence until the end of 2024, once a full conservation and repair plan has been drawn up.
Making connections
Once complete, it is expected that Nesta will make regular visits from its new home railway to North Wales.
Ff&WHR general manager Paul Lewin said: “Through the Great Little Trains of Wales, there is an incredible spirit of cooperation and support.
“Wales always has been and is now increasingly the place to visit if you are interested narrow gauge railways.
“Ffestiniog, Talyllyn, Rheidol and Bala are all working hard to bring new ways to connect visitors to the railways. Working with the team at the Richmond Light Railway on Nesta is just one small part of a most compelling offer.”
Meanwhile, the private Statfold Barn Railway is to undertake the full restoration of an all but forgotten 2ft gauge locomotive.
Black Hawthorn 0-4-0ST No. 748 of 1883 Portugesa (later known as Escucha) has moved to the Staffordshire venue, where a 30-year loan deal has been completed between the Hawthorn Engine and Carriage Trust, Portugesa’sowner, and the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust, which has earned an impressive reputation in locomotive restoration and is aiming to have Portugesa steam within five years.
The 6in-cylindered unique survivor was built for export and ordered through dealer Phillips of Swansea, setting sail from the Welsh port. Its early history remains unclear, but during the second decade of the 20th century it became based at the Minas y Ferrocariles de Utrillas in Teruel, Spain. There it was named Escucha and was ultimately modified to have side tanks and longer frames.
In 1984, the late Eric Maxwell brought Escucha back to its birthplace locality. Based at the Tanfield Railway, restoration began, and a shed was built to house the locomotive.
A substantial amount of work was done to the chassis, although the boiler was never tackled. Sadly, the restoration was not completed when Mr Maxwell died, after having ensured that ownership went to a new trust formed to safeguard his extensive collection of standard and narrowgauge locomotives and rolling stock.
‘Unmissable opportunity’
Hawthorn Engine and Carriage Trust chairman Stewart Waugh said: “Opportunities for restoration to be completed in the North East were limited, and the deal agreed with Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust was an unmissable opportunity to see Portugesa back in steam in a short period of time.
“We are really pleased to be working with the Statfold team and cannot wait to see the locomotive in action. We are also hoping that there might be opportunities for Portugesa to visit the North East once it is back in working order – we know Eric would have been very keen to see that.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes for many months to secure a bright future for as much of Eric’s collection as possible. This is a great step forward.”
Statfold’s Henry Noon said: “It is a great honour to be entrusted with this historically important Britishbuilt locomotive, which will be restored to working order and given a secure home in the company of the renowned Statfold collection.
“It is intended that once restored, the loco will tour other railways to be seen and admired by as wide an audience as possible.
“Eric Maxwell visited us on many occasions, and we would like to think he would be pleased with this collaboration.”