WAR OFFICE HUNSLET DEBUTS AT ‘TRACKS TO THE TRENCHES’
Veteran 4-6-0T goes on parade with its First World War comrades at Apedale commemoration.
Following its return to steam at the Statfold Barn Railway last month (SR482), unique operational War Office Hunslet 4‑6‑0T No. 1215 made its public debut at the Apedale Valley Light Railway’s ‘Tracks to the Trenches’ event on July 13‑15. Recently restored as Railway Operating Department No. 303, the First World War veteran was united with other Western Front designs at the gala, including the Greensand Railway Museum Trust’s Baldwin 4‑6‑0PT No. 778, the Moseley Railway Trust’s Hudswell Clarke 0‑6‑0WT No. 104 and Kerr Stuart ‘Joffre’ 0‑6‑0T Works No. 3014, as well as the Toddington‑based Henschel ‘Brigadelok’ 0‑8‑0T No. 1091.
No. 1215 was due to make its public debut at the Ffestiniog Railway’s ‘Hunslet 125’ event on June 22‑24 but was not ready in time. Appropriately, however, this First World War veteran made its first public appearance at an event which highlights the contribution made by the myriad light railways in transporting supplies and troops to the trenches.
The Hunslet 4‑6‑0T, which was repatriated from Australia in 2005, will remain based at the AVLR, although there are plans to hire the locomotive out to other railways in the near future.
No. 1215 was not the only locomotive making its debut at the event. New‑build Decauville 0‑4‑0T Edgar made its first public appearance since it was completed by North Bay Engineering earlier in the year, and will also continue to be based at the AVLR.