Garden centre Barclay promised bright future
A BARCLAY 0-4-0ST that has spent almost a quarter of a century on display in a Cheshire garden centre has been moved to a new home at the Churnet Valley Railway. Former ICI Dyestuffs employee W/No. 2226 of 1946 arrived at Cheddleton in early September. Known as ‘Katie’ in its garden centre home, the Barclay was previously one of the earliest residents at the newly formed Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, arriving there on April 11 1968. It had been bought new to work at ICI Dyestuffs Division’s Dalton Works and Turnbridge Works in Huddersfield. Here, it was apparently known simply by its works number, and it shunted the extensive sidings, which were not far from Kirkheaton Station, off the London and North Western Railway Kirkburton branch. It was one of the last steam locomotives to work at the site, a fellow Barclay and a Hawthorn Leslie fireless also surviving into 1968. Rail traffic ended completely just under three years later. At the KWVR, W/No. 2226 was quickly steamed and played its part in early trains during the first running on the preserved line - but found itself out of favour as larger locomotives became available and the popularity of the railway blossomed. The 16in-cylindered locomotive’s sojourn at Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire began in June 1992. The red-liveried machine became a popular attraction, particularly among younger visitors, as well as the subject of countless enthusiast photographs. New owner Rob Alcock heard that the locomotive, which he remembered from his childhood, was available and quickly made a move. The machine is considered to be complete, except for a handful of cab fittings, and is known to have undergone some repair work in its later days of industrial service. It is hoped that the overhaul of W/No. 2226 may commence towards the end of 2017. Once complete, it is envisaged that it will be used at the CVR, perhaps on tailored footplate experience courses and special events. It could also prove an ideal locomotive for the hire market, particularly on shorter lines.