Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
No one about today...
Captain Kernow's layouts
- Thread starter Captain Kernow
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Pencarrow
Western Thunderer
Wonderful, wonderful view. Sometimes less is more.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
And if a loco were to appear, it's more likely to be a Jinty...
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Or a diesel.
Fair's fair..
Fair's fair..
Pencarrow
Western Thunderer
And now you're just trying to get my hopes up.
Pencarrow
Western Thunderer
But then again...
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
timbowales
Western Thunderer
Yippee, a pannier!
Tim T, who has far more panniers than he really needs
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Light railway super power in the Welsh Marches:
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
'Greenhithe' class Peckett 'Sir Harry' reposing in Bethesda Yard, waiting for the local BR goods to bring some traffic for the Light Railway:
I will post a bit more about 'Sir Harry' in due course, but suffice to say that the original Hornby Peckett was modified using the Planet Industrials 'Greenhithe' conversion kit by the expert hand of James Hilton, to whom I am very grateful.
I will post a bit more about 'Sir Harry' in due course, but suffice to say that the original Hornby Peckett was modified using the Planet Industrials 'Greenhithe' conversion kit by the expert hand of James Hilton, to whom I am very grateful.
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
It’s early summer in 1962 and the Vale of Radnor Light Railway has taken delivery of a new loco. Well, new for it but the loco itself isn’t new.
‘Sir Harry’ is a ‘Greenhithe’ type of Peckett, characterised by it's low-slung cab, designed for use in industrial settings with limited clearances. 'Sir Harry' was originally delivered new in 1947 to a gas works in the West Midlands and carried the name ‘Wednesbury Park No.3’. Apparently, the nameplates only just fitted the saddle tanks.
After the closure of the gas works in 1959, the loco was sold to the Cuthbertson Chocolate Company for use in their Callow Lane works, in South Gloucestershire. It was here that it acquired its new name ‘Sir Harry’, in recognition of the long-standing nickname given by the workers to the works Chairman, the Hon. Tarquin Ffitch-Cuthbertson. The Hon. Tarquin was evidently a man of large bulk and was said to walk with a pronounced waddling gait, not unlike the motion of the Peckett along the works track.
The works staff did not get on with the Peckett and it was eventually laid aside in favour of a small Ruston diesel, purchased in 1961 from a local civil engineering contractor.
A few short weeks later, ‘Sir Harry’ was spotted by wealthy railway enthusiast P.B. Greenhouse, who had arrived at Callow Lane on a rail tour. He contacted the chocolate factory and arranged to purchase the Peckett on behalf of the Association of Independent Light Railways, of which he was a director. He also paid for the loco to have a light overhaul at BRs Oswestry works, following which it was transferred down to Capel Bethesda by way of local goods services, to fill in for one of the resident locos on the Vale of Radnor Light Railway, which was having an overhaul.
Here we see 'Sir Harry' arriving on the local goods service from Leominster, hauled by 1458:
The loco was shunted and left in the yard for the Light Railway to send something to haul it back up the valley to Llanddewi:
Eventually, the Light Railway's 'Planet' diesel wheezed into the yard with an ancient brake van and formed up a train:
Once up at the Light Railway's depot, the loco will be checked over by the fitter and will then enter service. Given the amount of traffic remaining on the Vale of Radnor Light Railway by then, 'Sir Harry' will have plenty of leisure time...
‘Sir Harry’ is a ‘Greenhithe’ type of Peckett, characterised by it's low-slung cab, designed for use in industrial settings with limited clearances. 'Sir Harry' was originally delivered new in 1947 to a gas works in the West Midlands and carried the name ‘Wednesbury Park No.3’. Apparently, the nameplates only just fitted the saddle tanks.
After the closure of the gas works in 1959, the loco was sold to the Cuthbertson Chocolate Company for use in their Callow Lane works, in South Gloucestershire. It was here that it acquired its new name ‘Sir Harry’, in recognition of the long-standing nickname given by the workers to the works Chairman, the Hon. Tarquin Ffitch-Cuthbertson. The Hon. Tarquin was evidently a man of large bulk and was said to walk with a pronounced waddling gait, not unlike the motion of the Peckett along the works track.
The works staff did not get on with the Peckett and it was eventually laid aside in favour of a small Ruston diesel, purchased in 1961 from a local civil engineering contractor.
A few short weeks later, ‘Sir Harry’ was spotted by wealthy railway enthusiast P.B. Greenhouse, who had arrived at Callow Lane on a rail tour. He contacted the chocolate factory and arranged to purchase the Peckett on behalf of the Association of Independent Light Railways, of which he was a director. He also paid for the loco to have a light overhaul at BRs Oswestry works, following which it was transferred down to Capel Bethesda by way of local goods services, to fill in for one of the resident locos on the Vale of Radnor Light Railway, which was having an overhaul.
Here we see 'Sir Harry' arriving on the local goods service from Leominster, hauled by 1458:
The loco was shunted and left in the yard for the Light Railway to send something to haul it back up the valley to Llanddewi:
Eventually, the Light Railway's 'Planet' diesel wheezed into the yard with an ancient brake van and formed up a train:
Once up at the Light Railway's depot, the loco will be checked over by the fitter and will then enter service. Given the amount of traffic remaining on the Vale of Radnor Light Railway by then, 'Sir Harry' will have plenty of leisure time...
cbrailways
Western Thunderer
Wonderful story CK. All you need now is a good backstory to have Alfred and Judy pay a visit....
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
Hi Larry, thanks for the kind words, it's OO.