COCKERILL STEAM TRAM ‘LUCIE’ RETURNS TO SERVICE
Belgian-built Cockerill steam tram ‘Lucie’ steamed for the first time in 20 years at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in August, following a three-year overhaulcum-restoration.
Previously based at the Middleton Railway, 1890-built Cockerill 0-4-0VBT Works No. 1625 was purchased by NYMR traction and rolling stock manager Paul Middleton in September 2017 and moved to Grosmont, where it has been restored to its original 1890s condition as Tramways de l’Est de Bruxelles (Tramways of East Brussels) No. 8. Now the NYMR’s smallest operational locomotive by some margin, it steamed for the first time since December 2000 on August 19 and undertook its first day of running-in trials over the bank between Grosmont and Goathland on September 5.
As to ‘Lucie’s’ future plans, Mr Middleton said: “I’m going to see how she performs and what she is capable of. Over the winter, she will be used to pre-heat the Santa stock, as we normally hire a locomotive in for this.
“I might let her visit some other railways once her newness has worn off; maybe a visit to the Yorkshire Wolds Railway or Derwent Valley. I would love her to visit Beamish and Tanfield as well.”
‘Lucie’ is one of only three working Cockerill 0-4-0VBTs in Britain. The others are Works Nos. 2525 (at the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway) and 2945 ‘Lady Lisa’ (at the Lavender Line). Of the other UK-based examples, Works No. 1626 is being restored to resemble an LNER Wisbech & Upwell ‘Y6’ at the Nene Valley Railway, while Works No. 3083 is under restoration at Tyseley.