Chasewater Railway Museum 1968 Vol.1 No.3 Bits & Pieces 42.3
Plus Stocklist – 1968
This is one of a number of articles included in this magazine – there will be another couple to follow later. I don’t know what happened to this loco, but in spite of it being purchased and delivered to Chasewater, it hasn’t steamed since!
Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST No.431 – By Frank Harvey
Working at Desborough – V F Hall
The previous issue of the Mercian featured several photographs of this, our latest locomotive, and it was felt that a short article about it would not be out of place.
It was built by Hudswell Clarke & Co., Leeds in 1895, works number 431 and spent most of its life in the hands of the Sheepbridge Coal & Iron Company in whose fleet she became No.15. It was allocated the name ‘Sheepbridge No.25’, but this was never carried and with the removal of its official number and works plates ran its last years without any identification at all.
It has on two occasions been rebuilt, first in 1928 and secondly in 1944, by the Sheepbridge Company themselves.
The engine was first suggested as a suitable candidate for preservation some two years ago when it was one of several locomotives at work at Desborough Warren Quarry near Kettering. One by one its companions were withdrawn leaving No.15 as the only workable source of motive power. After closure of the quarry it assisted with the lifting of the track, until the early part of 1967 when it too was withdrawn and stored in the engine shed at Desborough in company with an Avonside 0-6-0T.
The RPS then stepped in and after pleasing, successful negotiations with Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd., the locomotive was purchased. The firm kindly allowed us to steam the engine before purchase – and members will have read about this eventful weekend in the last issue of the magazine. (CRM Bits & Pieces No.41).
It proved to be in good working order and required little in the way of attention save for the fitting of two new injectors which have now been purchased, and the repairing of a cracked blower pipe. Evidence of this can be seen clearly in the photographs!
Desborough, 1968
The locomotive was delivered to Chasewater in November and restoration is now well under way. When completed it will be resplendent in apple green, lined black, edged white and a high standard is being achieved.
Chasewater August 1969
Purchase and transport charges tended to deplete the Society’s funds somewhat, but all agree that it was money well spent and in common with all other RPS stock, no money is outstanding, a fact of which we are justifiably proud.
Although restoration is unlikely to be completed before 1969, we look forward to seeing No.15, the oldest working Hudswell Clarke, in steam at Chasewater later this year.
In the Heritage Centre, 2010
Stocklist – 1968
With so many new additions, it was decided to publish a stocklist in the 1968 Mercian, Vol.1 No.3
I hope you can read it ok, it’s interesting to see what’s still here after 40-odd years, and what’s gone.
Chasewater Railway Museum 