From dilapidated to as-new condition – Shredded Wheat locomotive volunteers receive HRA award
MIDSUFFOLK Light Railway volunteers have been presented with the Heritage Railway Association’s Morgan Award for Preservation 2021 for their restoration of a Fowler 40hp 0-4-0DM from a rusting hulk to running order.
The locomotive was built in 1934 for the Shredded Wheat factory in Welwyn Garden City. It was rescued in a very dilapidated state by current owner Tony Goff, and in November 2018 was delivered to the Norfolk works of brothers Neal and Nigel Davis, vintage car restorers who are both volunteers at the railway and who have also worked on maintaining line’s two Ruston & Hornsby locomotives. It took the brothers just six months to work an apparent miracle by turning a rusting wreck into operational motive power.
The presentation was made by HRA chief executive Steve Oakes to John Stark, the chairman of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum, in the presence of the brothers on Saturday, February 26.
Driven by Neal and Nigel and the line’s regular driver, Nigel Pulham, the Shredded Wheat locomotive was then used to haul a train to Dovebrook.
Nigel said: “It’s just like driving a lorry – except you don’t have to steer and you don’t have to change gears very often!”
Steve praised the work of the smaller heritage railway museums and encouraged them to apply for awards even when competing against much bigger venues.