WHERE BARRY’S HAWKSWORTH TENDERS ENDED UP
The recent two-part article in SR on tenders was fascinating, and clearly demonstrates how something so simple can have a complicated history. Having restored the Hawksworth tender running with No. 7903 Foremarke Hall, I’d like to add a few more details and facts. Many years ago, the late Bill Peto from the GWS at Didcot told me that four Hawksworth tenders went to Barry. No. 4983 Albert Hall/4965 Rood Ashton Hall took in tender No. 4084, which is currently running with No. 7903. No. 5972 Olton Hall was attached to tender No. 4100, No. 5029 Nunney Castle had tender No. 4117 (currently behind No. 4930 Hagley Hall at the SVR), and No. 5051 Earl Bathurst had tender No. 4122. It is therefore assumed that Nos. 4100/22 became ingot carriers, but this is where there’s a twist in the tale. In the mid-1980s, we were offered a complete set of frames for about £250 from Swindon Works. They had been used as a crane test weight carrier. Albeit slightly modified, they were reasonably complete with a set of wheels that had almost-new tyres. When I became No. 7903’s locomotive manager in 1986, I decided that we would progress the tender ahead of the engine as it was quicker and easier, while at the same time sorting and refurbishing parts ready for restarting work on the engine. We de-modified the tender frames and fitted missing parts from the frames we brought out of Barry, including the brake shaft and cylinder. Sadly, we have not established the identity of either set of frames. The original tank was refurbished (not a new-build tank, as stated), and the old frames eventually ended up at Tyseley behind No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. Alistair Meanley told me he found the lot number, but nothing else, hence the choice of No. 4081, which was from the correct build. The number we adopted for our tender was No. 4084. This was based on the original tender allocated to Foremarke Hall which, when new, was No. 4082, so this was close enough. There is a reasonable chance that No. 4084 did survive Barry, so choosing that number seemed logical. Our tender tank was subsequently replaced with a new one in early 2006. John Cruxon, Locomotive Manager, 7903 Ltd