LNER O4 ends Haigh’s 29-year steam drought
Over the weekend of 29th/30th October the 15-inch gauge Haigh Hall Miniature Railway in Wigan operated a steam locomotive for the first time in 29 years (reports Donald Brooks).
In the early days of the mile-long circuit 1954-built Guest 2-4-2 ‘Katie’, best known for its association with the Fairbourne Railway, was the resident steam locomotive at Haigh until it left for Cleethorpes before finally ending up on the Kirklees Light Railway, where it runs today with its sister loco ‘Sian’.
The new steam locomotive at Haigh has moved from Cleethorpes and is LNER O4 2-8-0 No.6284, completed in 2009. Over the weekend it was scheduled to work halfhourly shuttles between Haigh Hall and Walled Garden stations, with the steam loco working on the steep gradients outbound and the train returning behind the line’s recent home-built internal-combustion locomotive as there are no run-round loops.
Despite some torrential downpours, the trains proved very popular though the steam locomotive failed during the Sunday afternoon running. It is planned to be running again in Wigan, but only on advertised dates which can be found on the railway’s Facebook page.
The Haigh Hall line first opened in July 1986 as a one-mile circuit through the woodland park and has had a somewhat chequered career since. It reopened under a new operator in 2013 with the shuttle trains over three quarters of a mile.
The full circuit is being restored and more volunteer assistance is welcome – details are also on the Facebook page (www. facebook.com/haighhallminiaturerailway)