STAFFORDSHIRE STARS SHINE AT AMERTON RAILWAY GALA

Unique surviving Baguley steam locomotive 0-4-0T Works No. 2007 Rishra has returned to the county of its birth for the first time since it was built, at the Amerton Railway’s ‘Staffordshire Engine Steam Gala’ on June 29/30.

It was the 1921-built Leighton Buzzard Railway-based engine’s first visit to Amerton, and it was one of five Staffordshire built locomotives at the event, appearing alongside Amerton residents Bagnall 0-4-0ST Works No. 1491 Isabel,

Kerr, Stuart ‘Sirdar’ 0-4-0T Works No. 1158 Diana and Kerr, Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0STs Works Nos. 4250 Lorna Doone and 3905 ‘Jennie’.

The latter was a last-minute replacement for 1922-built classmate Works No. 4256 Peter Pan – which was unable to attend owing to its overhaul at Leighton Buzzard. It only passed its steam test following completion of its overhaul the day before the gala.

MARK SMITHERS Unique Baguley 0-4-0T Rishra, visiting from the Leighton Buzzard Railway, pilots Amerton resident Kerr, Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0ST Lorna Doone on June 29.