Tanfield’s Horden back in action after half a century
THE Tanfield Railway has been celebrating the completion of an eightyear restoration project after Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST No. 1015 of 1904 Horden returned to steam after nearly 50 years – the latest member of the UK heritage steam fleet to be restored to running order in the preservation era.
April 9 saw Horden pass its steam test and begin running-in trials.
A railway spokesman said: “Nine years ago Horden was described as a no-hoper, rusting at the back of Marley Hill.
“After an extensive and challenging restoration, the dream became reality, passing its steam test and beginning running-in trials. A credit to everyone involved!”
Built in 1904 with 15in x 22in outside cylinders, 3ft 5in diameter wheels, weighing 32tons 10cwt with a tractive effort of 16,420lbf, it entered service as No. 1 Horden at Horden Collieries in County Durham.
The company owned Blackhall, Horden and Shotton collieries and its locomotives were moved around between them.
No. 1 was once moved by road in steam, over four track panels at a time, between Shotton and Horden collieries to avoid the high NER movement charges.
Career
Passing into National Coal Board ownership when the coal industry was nationalised in January 1947, No. 1 was based at Shotton. It moved to Horden Colliery between 1955 and 1957 and then returned. June 1969 saw it move to Ashington Central Workshops in Northumberland.
It was back at Shotton by spring 1970, and worked with Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST No. 3513 of 1923 Stagshaw, which is also based at Tanfield.
When Shotton Colliery closed in September 1972, No. 1 was sold to Stephenson Hawthorn Locomotive Trust and moved to Backworth Colliery in Northumberland for storage in November 1972. It finally arrived at Tanfield in June 1980.
In 2011, the locomotive was considered for restoration, which began the following year, when the boiler was lifted out of the frames, and in March 2013, the wheels were removed. A set of tyres obtained direct from Barclay in the early 1970s when Horden was first preserved, was fitted in 2015.
Return
September 2019 saw Horden’s boiler undergo a hydraulic test and in December that year, it had a fire lit in it.
The following year, the locomotive was painted in the green livery and the name Horden with gold leaf as supplied new.
Horden was only weeks away from steaming for the first time in 48 years last June when its restoration was halted in its latter stages by lockdown, and then thieves took non-ferrous components worth more than £20,000 from Tanfield.