Steam Railway (UK)

MISSION ACCOMPLISH­ED: BROWN BEAR ARRIVES AT GROUDLE GLEN

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For the second time this year, the Groudle Glen Railway has taken delivery of Britain’s newest steam locomotive, this time in the form of replica Bagnall 2-4-0T Brown Bear.

The new-build locomotive – the design of which is based on the Manx railway’s original 1905-built Bagnall 2-4-0T Polar Bear, now based at Amberley Museum in Sussex – arrived on the Isle of Man on July 8, having moved under its own power for the first time at its Old Hall Farm constructi­on base in Cumbria on July 1.

Brown Bear is the second new locomotive to have joined the GGR’s fleet this year, following the arrival of new-build Bagnall ‘Sipat’ 0-4-0ST Otter in April (SR493). It not only fulfils the railway’s ambition to field three steam locomotive­s of its own – in addition to 1896-built Bagnall 2-4-0T

Sea Lion – but also enables the GGR to run two Bagnall 2-4-0Ts in regular service for the first time since 1962, when the original railway closed. The railway’s fourth steam locomotive, replica Gentle Annie Tramway Bagnall ‘E’ 0-4-2T Annie, is privately owned.

Launched in January 2013 (SR410), Brown Bear has cost in the region of £120,000 and has been funded thanks to the line’s Brown Bear Appeal and sponsorshi­p from Trackshack Ltd, the Gough Ritchie Trust and Alan Cinery Trust.

In a homage to the locomotive’s design origins, it carries Polar Bear’s original chimney. GGR spokesman Alex Brindley said: “She was built to the original Bagnall plans for Polar Bear, which we have, so she is possibly the most accurate replica locomotive ever built, even down to external rivets on the firebox.

“Brown Bear finally recreates the 1905 image of the original Groudle Glen Railway, of the original two locomotive­s working together, a key part of the restoratio­n we’ve always wanted to put back in place.”

Both Brown Bear and Otter are to be officially launched on July 28, during the island’s July 24-28 Manx Heritage Transport Festival.

Mr Brindley added: “We now have to work out how to pay to maintain three steam locomotive­s long-term, as we only operate 35 days a year, which is where the Raising for Steam Appeal comes in. We’re asking people to sign up for just £2 a week, for which they will receive an exclusive collector’s badge, to support the long-term maintenanc­e of the locomotive­s.”

For more informatio­n and to donate, visit www.ggr.org.uk/ raising-for-steam-appeal

 ?? ALEX BRINDLEY ?? Two Bagnall 2-4-0Ts side by side on the Groudle Glen Railway, recreating the image of the line’s Edwardian heyday. New-build Brown Bear (right) stands at the line’s Lhen Coan terminus alongside 1896-built Sea Lion on July 8, the day the new locomotive arrived at the railway.
ALEX BRINDLEY Two Bagnall 2-4-0Ts side by side on the Groudle Glen Railway, recreating the image of the line’s Edwardian heyday. New-build Brown Bear (right) stands at the line’s Lhen Coan terminus alongside 1896-built Sea Lion on July 8, the day the new locomotive arrived at the railway.

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