Steam Railway (UK)

NEWS

Former ulverston branch 2-6-0 relocates to Cumbria, half a century after first preservati­on plan.

- BY PETER VAN CAMPENHOUT PETER VAN CAMPENHOUT

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Ivatt ‘Mogul’ No. 46441 will haul trains at the Lakeside & Haverthwai­te Railway – 50 years after it was first planned. The engine will remain at the Lake District line for an indefinite period, during which time the 2‑6‑0 will be returned to working order for the first time in almost two decades. It is a story that has come full circle for No. 46441, as it was envisaged in 1968 that it would have become a regular performer at the Cumbrian railway. Instead, however, the late Dr Peter Beet decided to base his locomotive­s at the fledgling Steamtown museum and main line locomotive depot at Carnforth, and the engine subsequent­ly operated on other preserved railways, as well as the national network. The engine has latterly been on static display at the Ribble Steam Railway, following its withdrawal from operation at the East Lancashire Railway in 2002. Its arrival at Haverthwai­te on a Reid Freight Transport low loader on April 16 follows tentative discussion­s that first took place at the end of 2017. LHR Managing Director Michael Maher has for many years wanted, in his words: “an engine with a boot”, if one ever became available and No. 46441 is considered to fit the bill, especially as it originally ran over the Lakeside branch. The ‘2MT’ remains in the ownership of the Beet family (Chris Beet is also in charge of ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander). It joins Fairburn 2‑6‑4Ts Nos. 42073 (operationa­l) and 42085 (expected to steam in 2019) at the LHR. It is hoped the overhaul will take around 18 months to two years to complete, dependent on workload. The boiler will go to West Coast Railways, Carnforth, for repair with the remaining work being carried out on site at Haverthwai­te by John Fowler Engineerin­g. Of the seven preserved Ivatt ‘Moguls’, Nos. 46441, 46443 and 46521 (Severn Valley Railway) have worked on the main line, but the Beet family engine will not be re‑registered. Built at Crewe in February 1950, No. 46441 was allocated to Lancaster Green Ayre for its entire working life; its duties were chiefly passenger trains from Morecambe to Lakeside via Ulverston. In the family. On April 16, the day No. 46441 arrived at Lakeside, those involved with the locomotive’s relocation pose with the ‘2MT’. From left to right: Alex Sharphouse (John Fowler Engineerin­g), Michael Maher (LhR MD), Karen Maher, betty beet, Chris beet, graham Magee (LhR director), and Leone beet.

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