Click the thumbnail to view the full sized images, which measure 600 pixels on the longest side, and are around 50k in size. Please read my copyright notes if you want to use them in any way

Since my last visit, in June 2006, there would have been changes at Statfold. The Mallet "Pakis Baru No 5" had been rebuilt and put into service, and I was looking forward to seeing it in action. But what else?

I was a little puzzled, on our arrival, by the line of rolling stock standing on the line into the station, with an unrestored Mallet in the platform ("Tjepper", built by Jung (2279) in 1914). The reason soon became clear. New platforms have been built on the bank beside the running shed (and clearly, in due course, will have canopies).

It seems to be standard practice for the motive power for Statfold open days to be unannounced. The first time I went, there were four locos in steam. Later that year, on the occasion of my second visit, there were five. Today, there were nine! At the end of the day, as I dropped off to sleep, I tried to remember all nine, and struggled (beats counting sheep any night). They were, in no particular order, Mallet ‘Pakis Baru’ No.5 (O&K 1473 of 1905) and close relative No 1 (O&K 614 of 1900). Both locomotives run on 2'6" gauge (no problem, as the main line is dual gauge). 2' gauge locos in action were residents 'Jack Lane' (new build Hunslet 3904 of 2006), 'Trangkil' No.4 (HE 3902/1971), the Harrogate Peckett (2050 of 1944), and visitors 'Isabel' (from Amerton, Bagnall 1491 of 1897) and 'Pearl 2' (Alan Civil's 1997-built locomotive). We mustn't forget 'Emmet', built 1995 from the remains of an earlier (1938) O&K on the garden railway... That's still only eight - the ninth being standard gauge Cockerill 'Yvonne’ (2945 of 1920).

Still more surprises - the first train in from the fields, shortly after we arrived, was a demonstration freight, in the capable hands of 'Trangkil' - and the payload? Some very nice "Hunslet" and "Kerr, Stuart" crates - and two narrow gauge steam locomotives on a flat wagon! My amazement as this train passed by and entered the station turned to puzzlement - what were these two (a little maroon foreign-looking job, and a Wren), and from where? . The short answer is Beaulieu, in Hampshire, where they are expected to enter service on a 2-mile line to be built there (see the Beaulieu Light Railway website). Until recently, they have been living in South Africa, restored and preserved by the Sandstone Heritage Trust. Their identity? - 'Bathala', Decauville 302 of 1899, and 'Little Bess', KS 4031 of 1919.

There was, of course, much else to see. There are locomotives everywhere at Statfold, in various states and stages of repair and construction - ranging from the frames, wheels and boiler of HE 3905, which will be a Kerr, Stuart 'Wren' type locomotive, to a large standard gauge diesel, partly dismantled in the yard. And, in the field below the car park, numerous traction engines and steam rollers chuffed around, hauling demonstration loads, and from time to time wandering off across the fields beside the railway. I think perhaps the railway enthusiasts' heaven is something like this...

Links:

• Industrial Railway Society

Like these pages? Tell me! - I might put some more up.

Back to index page