Bronhilda moves from Bredgar to Richmond

The Richmond Light Railway has acquired Schwartzkopf 0-4-0WT ‘Bronhilda’ (9124/1927) from the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway.

The transfer of the loco between the two Kent 2ft gauge lines – they are located only around 10 miles apart – comes as the Bredgar line appears to be slimming down its collection following the passing of founder Bill Best in April 2020.

Bronhilda, the only 2ft gauge example of a Schwartzkopf in the UK, was the first steam loco to run at Bredgar when Bill Best acquired it in 1979 from Alan Bloom at the Bressingham Steam Museum in Norfolk.

The engine was built to operate at the Hamburg copper works in Germany and designed to a restricted height due to limited clearances around the works. It was sold to Bressignham in 1976 and later acquired a taller chimney in preservation.

“We are very pleased to be able to add Bronhilda to the collection at Richmond,” said RLR owner Jeremy Martin.

“We have always had close ties with Bredgar and it is fitting that the engine will stay in Kent and hopefully be able to visit Bredgar again in the future.

“Since its arrival we have undertaken some minor boiler repairs and had the engine in steam a number of times and it performs very well on the line.”

The RLR is making good progress on the overhaul of quarry Hunslet ‘Elin’ (705/1899). The loco’s boiler has received a new firebox, new studs and a retube, and was expected to undergo its hydraulic test in late February.