‘AUTOTANK’ RETURNS MAIN LINE STEAM TO PITSFORD

A steam drought on the Northampton & Lamport Railway was temporarily broken by ‘14XX’ No. 1450 during the line’s ‘Branch Line Gala’ on August 26-28. The GWR ‘Autotank’ was the star of the show at the three-day event, becoming the first ex-main line locomotive to work over the 1½-mile railway since LMS ‘Jinty’ No. 47298. Two main line locomotives are based at the NLR - ‘Hall’ No. 5967 Bickmarsh Hall and ‘2884’ 2-8-0 No. 3862 - although both are yet to be restored. No. 1450 briefly paid tribute to the former by carrying the ‘Hall’s’ nameplate on its fireman’s side running plate. It was the first time the NLR had been able to offer steam-hauled trains since resident Peckett ‘R4’ 0-4-0ST Works No. 2104 was withdrawn for overhaul at the end of February.

TOBY JENNINGS/SR With the ‘Bickmarsh Hall’ nameplate adorning its running plate, ‘14XX’ No. 1450 has just arrived at Pitsford & Brampton with the last train of the day on August 27.