STATFOLD ACQUIRES ROYAL ARSENAL WOOLWICH

Former Royal Arsenal Railway Avonside 0-4-0T Woolwich has been donated to the Statfold Barn Railway, where it is to be restored.

The unique surviving 18in gauge ‘Charlton’ class locomotive is one of several items of rolling stock donated to the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust by the Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills Company Ltd. – hitherto Woolwich’s owners. The company decided to transfer the entirety of its 18in gauge collection to Statfold after deciding to concentrate on its 2ft 6in gauge ‘Gunpowder Railway’ at Waltham Abbey in Essex.

Joining Woolwich at Statfold are ex-RAR Hunslet 0-4-4-0DM Carnegie, five carriages and a gunpowder wagon, all of which will be restored to full operating condition at Statfold for its 18in gauge line, which the SBR plans to extend. In return, Statfold is to donate one of its out-of-service but fully operational 2ft 6in gauge locomotives to the WARGM Co. for use on the ‘Gunpowder Railway’.

WARGM spokesman Grahame Browne said: “We are very pleased that both Woolwich and Carnegie, the 18in gauge carriages and the ‘powder wagon are going to the SNGMT, which has the facilities to bring both locomotives and other items back to their former operational glory and operate them, as per the agreement, for the benefit of future generations.”

Statfold trustee Henry Noon said: “We are very happy to accept this generous donation from WARGM. Not only are both locomotives appropriate to our Hunslet Group collection, but they also add to the narrow gauge story we are telling here at Statfold.”

Woolwich is the third steam locomotive to be donated to Statfold in 2019, following the acquisition of Bagnall 0-4-0ST Wendy and ‘Quarry Hunslet’ 0-4-0ST Cloister (SR497/500).