Leeds-built Hawarden goes ‘home’ to Middleton Railway
THE THIRD ex-Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum locomotive to move to its new home was Hudswell, Clarke 0-4-0ST Hawarden, which arrived at the Middleton Railway on January 26.
Built in 1899 as Works No. 526, for use at John Summers Ltd’s Globe Ironworks in Stalybridge, the move to Middleton is something of a homecoming for the Leeds-built Hawarden. Preserved through the generosity of the Summers family, Hawarden passed into the care of the National Trust and, after cosmetic restoration, moved to Penrhyn Castle.
The possibility of Hawarden coming to Middleton was first raised three years ago, when the Bahamas Locomotive Society was offered both Hawarden and Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0T Vesta (see separate story, right) by the National Trust, which was seeking to downsize its collection at Penrhyn and focus on the exhibits related to the Penrhyn slate quarry. As the BLS did not have space for both locomotives in its museum at Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, the BLS offered one to Middleton.
“After consultation within the railway, it was decided that Hawarden would best suit us because it provided a direct contrast with both Henry De Lacy II and Mirvale, and so negotiations were entered into with BLS to have it on loan,” explained Middleton Railway Trust vice chairman Ian Smith.
Although the discovery of asbestos lagging on the boiler and elsewhere caused some delays, an agreement was signed in early January; like
Vesta, Hawarden will remain on loan to the BLS for three years, after which the plan is to transfer ownership to the MRT.
Smith added: “Its external condition requires some attention, including a painted name on the side which the public will see, and we are grateful to Roger Walton for agreeing to paint the name on in due course. Some touching up of paintwork is also required.”
The railway hopes to display
Hawarden with its smokebox door open, as it was at Penrhyn, to allow visitors to see inside.
Middleton Railway Chairman, Charles Milner said: “The Middleton Railway is very grateful for the generosity and kindness shown by the BLS by placing Hawarden on loan to us. Visitors will be able to see the locomotive on display when the railway reopens in April 2024.”