Restored 3ft gauge Wickham Trolleys go to Crowle Peatland

THE Rail Trolley Trust (TRTT) has placed 3ft gauge Wickham Type 17A Trolley (works No. 4091) and a Type 17A DsmT (dismantled from a powered Trolley, works number unknown, to an unpowered trailer) on loan to the Crowle Peatland Railway in Lincolnshire. No. 4091 was built in 1946 for the North British Aluminium Co Ltd’s Lochaber Works line at Fort William, Scotland.

The trolley and trailer were out of use by 1961 and recovered for preservation in 1978 by the late Rich Morris. Following a period in the collection at Gloddfa Ganol, Blaenau Ffestiniog, they passed through further ownerships until being donated to Statfold Barn Railway in 2012.

Statfold donated the vehicles to TRRT in April 2014 and they went to a private workshop where they were restored to running order. Replacement of the wooden bodywork on both vehicles will be undertaken by Crowle Peatland Railway.

ALISTAIR GRIEVE The former Lochaber trolley and trailer pictured in action at the Crowle Peatland Railway on September 19. The railway is being extended out of the yard area onto the moors to the left of this view.