‘Austerity’ nameplates back briefly
A British built locomotive has been making the news in Belgium recently. No. 71596, a Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST (3796/1953) has been in Belgium since 2009, working at Stoomcentrum Maldegem between Maldegem and Eeklo in its original WD green livery. It appeared on the cover of a 1969 copy of The Railway Magazine, having been named Errol Londsdale after the Commanding Officer of the Royal Corps of Transport based at Longmoor, the locomotive being painted in the famous Longmoor Blue livery. It had also taken part in ‘The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery’ film. Following some attention to the locomotive’s valve gear and remetalling of the big ends, it was loaned to the Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des 3 Vallées railway at Mariembourg for that line’s Steam Festival event in October, and for this occasion the Errol Londsdale nameplates were reattached. The other British locomotive at Maldegem is Avonside 0-4-0ST Fred (1908/1925). This locomotive has worked extensively during the summer but will now be given an overhaul over the winter in time to appear at the annual Stoomfest in early May 2023.