‘Terrier’ tank steps in for Embsay gala
WHEN the planned star guest engine for its June 25-28 Railway Rally was unavailable, the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway turned to the opposite end of the country.
Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T No. 419 was booked to make the journey from the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway for the event but just three days beforehand, the EBASR learned it had failed and would be unable to attend.
A replacement was found in the form of LBSCR ‘Terrier' 0-6-0T No. 2678 Knowle, which was diverted from its road movement home to the Kent & East Sussex Railway following its appearance at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's 50th anniversary gala (see pages 20/21).
Having been delayed by a problem with the Wightlink ferry, the Stroudley A1X arrived at Embsay at about 8pm on the Thursday – hours before its first rostered turn.
The second guest was returning to Yorkshire for the first time in more than 80 years – Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 2 (Works No. 2859 of 1911), built new for the nearby Keighley gasworks but sold in about 1940 to the Ministry of Supply and sent to Dumfries Royal Ordnance Factory at Drungans, Kirkcudbrightshire. Having later worked for ICI and Nobels Explosives, it is now based at the Tanfield Railway.
Already based in Yorkshire but travelling the width of the county to reach Embsay was the third visitor – Belgian Cockerill steam tram No. 8 ‘Lucie', owned by North Yorkshire Moors Railway traction and rolling stock manager Paul Middleton.
The trio were in action alongside resident Hunslet 0-6-0ST Works No. 2705 of 1945 Beatrice and NER autocar No. 3170, as well as the line's vintage carriages.
John Beesley, an EBASR director and owner of Beatrice, described it as “a rip-roaring weekend” for everyone involved.
“We were very lucky with the weather,” he said.
“It was nicely in our favour – whether you were photographing, operating the locos or riding. There was a great atmosphere.”
He praised ‘Lucie' in particular: “It comfortably handled our gradients and cheerfully kept to the timetable – it seemed very much at home.”