Chasewater receives nuclear Hunslet after kind donation

THE Chasewater Railway (CR) has received 0-6-0DH, Hunslet 9000 of 1983 (rebuilt Hunslet 9288 in 1987 and YEC L117 in 1992) from Sellafield Ltd, previously British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL), Sellafield. Originally used by Esso, it became BNFL No. 6 and was re-engined with a Cummins N14 unit. It has been replaced by a new Clayton CBD80 Bo-Bo hybrid loco and was in service until October 10. It left Cumbria for the Staffordshire railway the following day and was soon in operation on demonstration freights and providing cab rides. This acquisition came about through Chasewater volunteer Phil Civil, who works for Clayton and looks after the two new locos at Sellafield. Once the paperwork was in place, Sellafield agreed to donate the loco for preservation. A few jobs and a repaint will be undertaken over the winter.

OWEN EDWARDS A remarkable sight for a heritage railway as Hunslet 9000, newly arrived from Sellafield nuclear site, heads a lengthy rake of ‘MGR’ (merrygo-round) coal hoppers at the Chasewater Railway’s coal train day on October 16. While there were literally thousands of these wagons on BR just a few years ago, only a very few exist today. The MGR collection is a joint venture between Chasewater and the National Wagon Preservation Group who between them, have managed to acquire and restore nine of these iconic vehicles.