Grant, Richie at Horsehay
Scotsmen, not flying
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2018
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
16 September 2018
Three years ago, in April 2015, I visited the Telford Steam Railway to see their first train to Lawley Village - a northern extension of this short Shropshire railway. “Must take a ride one day soon”. Earlier this year, a friend mentioned that the little Grant, Richie 0-4-0ST from the Ribble Steam Railway would be on the line this year, substituting for indisposed “Rocket”. I’d really better get down there. Today, I realised, would be the penultimate normal steam day of their 2018 season. “We’re going to Horsehay today” … Grant, Richie were not the biggest builders of steam locomotives in Scotland, though two have survived. No 272 was built in their Kilmarnock works (which is why it closely resembles a Barclay) in 1894, and when its working life ended, it found itself in Muir’s scrapyard in Fife. It was eventually rescued and, after a period of storage
and subsequent restoration, it returned to steam a couple of years ago. The gradients on the Telford line are steep - 1 in 40 either side of the summit, a little way south of the tunnel, so no 272 had to work, despite its light load - one coach and a brake van. Trains here are alternately propelled and hauled along the line - there are no run-round facilities, so throughout our short visit, the locomotive was coupled face-first to the train. There’s another Scotsman here - 1954-built diesel “Tom”, North British 27414. He used to work at the GKN Sankey works in Telford, and has spent his retirement here. Today he’s resplendent in (fictitious) BR livery, looking neat at the station platform, just watching the steam action. Link: Telford Steam Railway
Time for refreshment At Horsehay and Dawley platform If we look over here we can see down his chimney Departure Working hard at Horsehay Tom sits and watches 27414 Out of the tunnel... ... and into Lawley Village station Lawley departure Another departure from Horsehay and Dawley