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No.3 "RICHARD III" 0-6-0 Side Tank

Built Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd., Newcastle, in 1949, Makers No. 7537; Cylinders 18" x 24"; Wheels 3’8"; Weight 50 tons.

Supplied new to the British Electricity Authority (later to become C.E.G.B.) to a design which proved popular for use at large power stations where there was a requirement for locomotives capable of taking over a 1000 ton train from a BR locomotive for the final stage of its journey to the coal tipplers. There were eventually 12 of these locomotives in the West Midlands Region alone. No.3 was employed on such duties at Nechells Power Station, Birmingham from new until shortly before it came to Shackerstone on 11th June 1972. The CEGB had a new firebox manufactured at Hunslet in the late 1960's. This was made from thin plate to improve heat transfer and has now unfortunately worn out. No. 3 served as a "Thomas the Tank Engine" look a like prior to being took out of service.

Currently undergoing restoration. Boiler away for retubing and new firebox.

No.7  0-4-0 Saddle Tank

Built Peckett & Sons Ltd., Bristol, in 1949, Makers No. 2130,Cylinders 14" x 20"; Wheels 3’ 2½"; Weight 29 tons.

This locomotive is one of an identical pair (class W7) which commenced their working lives at the Co-operative Wholesale Society’s Irlam Soap Works, Lancs. It is no stranger to passenger work as daily workman’s trains consisting of a very fine Midland Railway coach operated between the works and Irlam BR station 2 miles distant, until the late 1950’s. Use of the railway had ceased by 1966 when both locos were sold to the Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd., Birmingham. They worked there for several years until purchased by Mr. A. Hunt who moved them to his mineral water factory at Hinckley for storage. No.7 came to Shackerstone on 7th December 1974. After a retube it took its turn on our trains until its firebox was condemned.

Awaiting restoration.

"LAMPORT No.3" 0-6-0 Saddle Tank

Built W.G.Bagnall Ltd., Stafford in 1942, Makers No. 2670, Cylinders 15" x 22"; Wheels 3’ 4½"; Weight 38 tons.

This locomotive was one of a batch of 6 similar locomotives supplied to the Staveley Coal and Iron Company to help expand the home produced iron ore industry in Northants. as part of the war effort. Because it was designed to work at slow speed over poorly laid temporary track it was fitted with compensated springs, which distribute the shocks from track irregularities over two axles. This was a feature of many early contractors locomotives, but became less usual later except for quarry lines. It worked at Lamport Quarries which were connected to the BR Northampton - Market Harborough line, until purchased by the Leicester Industrial Loco. Group in 1969. They kept it first at the C.E.G.B. Leicester power station and later at the Main Line Steam Trust’s premises at Loughborough. It came to Shackerstone on 31st October 1979 and was put to work in 1981. Apart from overhauls it has been a regular performer ever since. Lamports last days in steam were the Queens Golden Jubilee weekend in 2002.

Boiler Ticket up awaiting Full Overhaul

"WALESWOOD" 0-4-0 Saddle Tank

Built by Hudswell Clarke & Co. Ltd., Leeds, in 1906, Makers No. 750; Cylinders 14" x 20"; Wheels 3’ 3½"; Weight 28 tons.

New to Messrs. Skinner and Holford Ltd., it was used at their Waleswood colliery and coking plant in South Yorkshire. It passed with the site to the NCB in 1947 and when the coking plant closed in 1962, moved to nearby Kiveton Park Colliery. First preserved at Staveley Derbys. in 1972, it later moved to Steamport Railway Museum at Southport, Merseyside. It came to Shackerstone on 17th May 1990, needing repairs, and at the time of writing these are still in progress. In common with many elderly colliery locomotives this had a hard life. The buffer beams carry evidence of many rough shunts and encounters with moving wagons.

Currently under long term restoration.

"SIR GOMER" 0-6-0 Saddle Tank

Built in Bristol by Peckett and Sons Ltd in 1932; Cylinders 16" x 24" ; Wheels 3' 10"; Weight 34½ tons. Makers No.1859

Sir Gomer was built in Bristol to Peckett's OX1 Design. The engine is named after Sir James Gomer Berry (1883-1968) - Newspaper proprietor and industrial magnate, born in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He was director of many colliery companies in South Wales. He became chairman of Kemsley Newspapers Ltd in 1937, controlling The Sunday Times and other newspapers. He was created a baronet in 1928, raised to the peerage in 1936, and received a viscountcy in 1945. In 1950 he published The Kemsley Manual of Journalism.

The loco was delivered to Mountain Ash Colliery of Llewellyn (Nixon) Ltd. Sir Gomer became the property of Powell Duffryn Associated Collieries in 1936. Then the property of the NCB in 1947. It spent its entire working life at Mountain Ash before being retired in 1981 as one of the last working steam locomotives in the area.

Loaned to the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum by the National Coal Board, Sir Gomer passed into the care of the Butetown Historic Railway Society in 1982. After many years of work by a few dedicated volunteers at their own expense Sir Gomer was fully restored to working order from 1986 - 1993 and then they bought the loco for £100 in 1995. When the Butetown Historic Railway Society moved to Barry Island it became the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Compamy (VoGRC). Sir Gomer was the first working steam engine for the VoGRC. Sir Gomer’s movements at VoGRC were restricted. Designed as a powerful colliery engine, Sir Gomer could not operate across the Causeway (their new track extension) because of the drive rods on the outside of its wheels. These drive rods come within two inches of the circumference of its wheels and thus not clear of the check rail. The loco was used at VoGRC giving visitor-rides in a former Class 108 DMU driving vehicle. They purchased another loco (Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST). Due to the limited clearence on Sir Gomer's wheels, caused by the loco not being built to mainline standards it was subsequently surplus.

The loco arrived at Shackerstone in October 2001.

Currently in working order.

Aveling Porter Rail Locomotive 2-2WT No.9449 "The Blue Circle"

This locomotive, built by Aveling & Porter, Rochester, Kent, who are better known for their traction engines.

The Blue Circle is a 2-2-0 well tank, class TJ, built to a design dating back almost 100 years. The locomotive was built in 1926, although at least 80 years out of date by that time. She is the very last traction engine type railway locomotive to be built on the 4' 8½" standard gauge.

Delivered new to Holborough Cement Co. Ltd., Kent (later to become Blue Circle Cement) for use at their Snodland Works. Withdrawn in 1962 and presented to the Bluebell Railway when she was named The Blue Circle after her previous owners. She lay derelict for many years but then underwent heavy boiler repairs and then spent some time at the Northants Ironstone Trust as she was not really suitable for work at the Bluebell.

She then moved to Quainton as a working engine in 1997, having been presented to a QRS member on long term loan. The Blue Circle had a makeover to appear as Thomas character Fergus for a visit to the Bluebell Railway in June 2004, returning to Quainton in this livery for the Thomas event at Quainton in November 2004.  The engine then left Quainton in March 2005 for the Chinnor and Princess Risborough Railway and arrived at Shackerstone in 2007.

Currently in working condition.

LNER B1 1306 "Mayflower"

Built by the North British Locomotive Co. in Glasgow as part of a batch of 150 ordered in January 1946, entering service with Britsh Railways on the tender and numbered 61306.

The B1s were introduced in 1942 by LNER Engineer Edward Thompson, to replace many ageing engines of similar type, as Sir Nigel Gresley only had B17s under the 4-6-0 heading, but this was not a mixed traffic loco. 61306 was first allocated to Hull Botanic Gardens until June 1959 when it was transferred to Hull Dairycoates and finally in June 1967 to Low Moor, just south of Bradford. On the 30th September 1967 she was withdrawn and eventually sold to private buyers in preservation, being based at Steamtown, Carnforth.

During her service with British Railways she was eventually painted black, but after arriving at Carnforth was repainted in LNER apple green livery once again, which she continues to carry at the present time. The name "Mayflower" was carried originally by another B1 61379 which worked from Immingham along the ECML mainly through Peterborough. Although this loco was scrapped the name was applied to 1306 during the preservation to continue the association of the two towns Boston (Lincolnshire) and Massachusetts (USA) commemorating the Pilgrim Fathers.

During the time at Carnforth 1306 was used on mainline specials including the Shildon Cavalcade in 1975. In 1978 the loco was purchased by the current owner and moved to the Great Central Railway where she stayed until 1989, when she moved to her old shed at Hull Dairycoates under the HLPG banner, but when the site was bought for development, was moved to Wansford on the 16th May 1991 to complete her overhaul. She arrived at Shackerstone in 2007.

Away from railway until April 2012 for boilerwork

Mayflower Group Website