Returnsto Llanberis
homas Bachwasexpectedto
TheRMispublished.
ThomasBachwas withdrawnin 2012,but with the overhaulwork,which includedfitting a new boiler, havingbecomeprotracted it wassentto NorthBay RailwayEngineering Servicesin Decembe2r 019 for completion.
Followingthe Covid-19 lockdownthe railway reopenedon August1 with Hunslet-0-4-0STEslidirand Dolbadarnavailablefor
Bachto
THENationalRailwayMuseum hasinvited expressionos f interestfrom organisations wishingto becomecustodians of 3ft-gaugeHudswell,Clarke 0-4-0STHandyman(573/1900). Theclosingdatefor applicationswasAugust31. TheYork-basedattraction bought the locomotivein July 2008.
It originallyworkedin the
Ironstoneindustry,but wasof a type typicallyemployedby contractorsduring construction of damsand reservoirs.
Theintentionwasfor Handymanto representhis aspectof the developmenot f Britishinfrastructurepriorto the FirstWorldWarin a displayfor the proposedNRMPlusproject.
Whenbought Handyman had beenstoredoutsidefor some30yearswith numerous componentsmissing.
It wasdisplayedin as-bought conditionin the NRM'sGreat Halluntil mid-2013when it was movedinto TheWorksfor cosmeticrestoration.
TheNRMPlusdevelopment neverhappenedandwith the locopartiallydismantled progresson Handyman stopped.
Havingreassesseidts prioritiesin termsof the stories it wantsto tell,Handymanno longerfits the NRM'scriteria. Transferringthe locomotive to a new owner is a meansby which it couldbe restoredand returnedto publicdisplay. TheRMunderstandsfour
Handymanhavebeenlodged.