Seaforth en route from Australia to join Statfold collection

HUNSLET 0-4-2T Seaforth (HE1026/1910) is joining the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust (SNGMT) collection.

Constructed for the Australian sugar industry, its name derives from the Seaforth sugar estate in North Queensland. In 1935 it was working at Pleystowe mill and out of use by 1960. Its condition deteriorated while displayed on a plinth and it was sold privately in 2013, going into storage until acquired for the Statfold collection last year.

It was expected to arrive in June but bad weather delayed shipping.

SNGMT has also confirmed plans for an extension to the 2ft-gauge Statfold Barn upper field railway, which will turn the majority of this line into a large balloon loop. The extension will branch from the existing line just beyond the Burton & Ashby tram shed and climb towards Copnill Farm before turning south to join the current line at Cogan Halt, adjacent to the existing balloon loop.

Although rated a project for the future, hardcore has been laid on part of the route. The final alignment remains to be determined since significant gradients are involved.

JOEY EVANS A WELCOME RETURN: Graham Morris’s Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0ST ‘Wren’ Peter Pan pulls away from Leighton Buzzard Railway’s Page’s Park station on July 4. Having undergone significant overhaul, its relaunch was delayed by 2020 lockdowns; this being the first public train the loco has hauled since 2016.