Rare Dutch shunter saved

WHEN the opportunity suddenly arose, The East Kent Railway (EKR) took delivery of an usual loco in September. It is a former Dutch Railways (NS) 4wDE shunter that has been out of use for many years in a Kent gravel quarry.

This was Brett Aggregates, North Sea Terminal at Cliffe, which Goody Demolition had the contract for demolishing the buildings. The loco was discovered abandoned in a shed due for demolition and the contractors informed the EKR Trust and a deal was done to acquire it.

A low-loader was hired, but extricating the loco from the site proved difficult as the vehicle became bogged down in soft sand and had to be rescued.

DAVE HARRIS The Dutch shunter is seen in the platform at Shepherdswell shortly after arrival in late 2021. It was built by Werkspoor NV of Utrecht, Holland (868 of 1950) for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), their No. 331. It was acquired by Brett in 2002 from Van de Heuvel, a dealer and scrap merchant of Spijk, Holland.