Hunslet Hastings moves to the Chasewater Railway
Running-in gets underway on 133-year-old veteran in Staffordshire.
FORMER Sproxton ironstone quarry Hunslet 0-6-0ST
Hastings (469/1888) moved from Statfold Engineering Ltd to the Chasewater Railway on September 14, to allow comprehensive running-in to be carried out on the newly overhauled locomotive.
The veteran loco returned to steam at Statfold earlier this year, and made its first independent moves in 56 years on Statfold’s short standard gauge line on May 7.
In a statement on the loco’s Facebook page, owner Mike Hart said: “I wanted to make the next phase commissioning and testing on a longer run, and at faster speed, than is practical on the short length of standard gauge track at Statfold. The Chasewater Railway very kindly offered the use of their line for that testing.”
Recommissioning
On September 18 Hastings was steam tested and undertook some successful light engine running, resulting in it working a full round trip from Brownhills West to Chasetown (Church Street) and back with three coaches. This was believed to have been the first time that the 0-6-0ST had hauled any sort of train since the early 1960s. The following day the loco worked all four service trains, pairing up with Hudswell, Clarke 0-4-0ST Waleswood (750/1906) on the last train of the day.
Hastings was booked to work a photographic event for 30472 Charters on October 23, ahead of starring in Chasewater’s Coal Train Day the next day. This event was also expected to feature Waleswood and Hunslet 0-6-0ST Holly Bank No.3 (3783/1953) in service; the blue-liveried trio working an intensive timetable of both passenger and coal train demonstrations.
No date has yet been set for when Hastings will leave Chasewater. Mr Hart has previously told The RM that it is his eventual intention to have the loco based at the currently mothballed Elsecar Heritage Railway, but until such a time he hopes that the loco will be able to visit other preserved railways, including its former home at the Kent & East Sussex Railway.