Plan to restore rare Black Hawthorn to steam
A RARE surviving 2ft gauge Black Hawthorn 0‑4‑0ST that hasn’t steamed for decades could be restored within five years, thanks to a new partnership agreement.
1883‑built Portugesa – better known by its later name
Escucha – has recently moved to the Statfold Barn Railway for restoration to working order, following the signing of a 30‑year loan deal between the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust and the locomotive’s owners, the Hawthorn Engine & Carriage Trust.
Built as Works No. 748, the early history of the 6in‑cylinder locomotive after it was exported overseas is not completely clear, but by the second decade of the 20th Century it was working at the Minas y Ferrocariles de Utrillas in Teruel, Spain. It was here that it acquired the name Escucha, and was modified to have side tanks and longer frames.
Escucha was repatriated to Britain in 1984 by Eric Maxwell and based at the Tanfield Railway for restoration. Although substantial progress was made with the locomotive’s ‘rolling chassis’, the boiler remained untouched, and the restoration was in abeyance when Maxwell passed away. However, his collection of standard and narrow gauge rolling stock passed into the ownership of the Hawthorn Engine & Carriage Trust.
Trust chairman Stewart Waugh said: “Opportunities for restoration to be completed in the North East were limited, and the deal agreed with Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust was an unmissable opportunity to see Portugesa back in steam within a short period of time.
“We’re really pleased to be working with the Statfold team and can’t wait to see the locomotive in action. We’re also hoping that there might be opportunities for Portugesa to visit the North East once it is back in working order – we know Eric would have been very keen to see that.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes for many months to secure a bright future for as many of Eric’s collection as possible.”
Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust’s Henry Noon said: “It is a great honour to be entrusted with this historically important, British‑built loco, which will be restored to working order and given a secure home in the company of the renowned Statfold collection. It is intended that, once restored, the locomotive will tour other railways to be seen and admired by as wide an audience as possible. Eric visited us on many occasions, and we would like to think he would be pleased with this collaboration.”