Bagnall
0-4-0 saddle tank built 1940, number 2623 "Hawarden"
Above: Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Hawarden" on a return visit to Shelton Works in 1994
Always
a local locomotive, "Hawarden" is a very powerful but compact 15" four
coupled saddle tank designed by W G Bagnall at Stafford specifically for
heavy duties at steelworks. It was the second of a pair, numbers 2622 and
2623, built to meet a desperate need of new motive power in the drive to
increase steel production for the war effort. Ordered by the Ministry of
Supply, both were intended to join similar locomotives at the Butterley
Company's works at Ripley in Derbyshire. However, the second one was diverted
to the Shelton Iron & Steel Co in Stoke-on-Trent in November 1940 and
was named after the works at Shotton that belonged to the Shelton parent
company, John Summers & Sons Ltd. It was immediately put to work on
some of the most arduous work, hauling molten metal ladles and slag ladles
to the tip where the fresh molten slag lit up the night sky for miles around.
In 1946 "Hawarden" was in use on a three shift system around the clock.
Once the war was over it was returned by rail to Bagnalls for rebuilding
under works order 6440 and came back to Shelton on 31 August 1949.
.
.
Above:
Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Hawarden" at Shelton Works [late HB Holland collection]
"Hawarden"
turned out to be the last new steam locomotive delivered for use at Shelton,
and also the last to be used there. Having been relegated to spare engine
for a couple of years, "Hawarden" was last steamed on 18 March 1972 and
was replaced by a secondhand Yorkshire diesel. The sister engine to "Hawarden",
number 2622 "Butterley No52" had already been scrapped 10 years earlier.
"Hawarden" was purchased privately for preservation and moved to Foxfield
on 30 March 1972. It still bore the scars of its hard life at the steelworks
as splashes of solidified metal were still evident around the front end.
To read the story of "Hawarden"'s preservation in 1972 see a well researched
article by Allan Baker online in Industrial
Railway Record October 1973.
"Hawarden"
has enjoyed a very active life in preservation and as well as use on the
steam passenger service for several years, has travelled far and wide for
photographic charters. These have included return visits to Shelton Bar
before the rolling mill finally closed. New boiler tubes were fitted in
2005. Other visits included being a surprise guest at the Churnet Valley
Railway Gala on 24-5June 2006, being used for driver experiences at Cheddleton
and taking a full run over the line. The current boiler certificate for
"Hawarden" is due to expire in summer 2008.
Above:
Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Hawarden" heads a passenger train at Foxfield Colliery
in 1979
[photograph by John Sherratt]
Above:
Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Hawarden" and Dubs 0-4-0CT back home at Shelton Works
in 1994
Above:
4x4 superpower: Bagnall "Hawarden" and Peckett "Lion" storm up Foxfield
Bank
[photograph by John Sherratt]
Technical
information:
Steam pressure: 180 lbs
Cylinders: 15in x 22in
Tractive effort:17,800 lbs (at
85% boiler pressure)
Wheel diameter: 3' 6"
Coupled wheelbase 5' 6"
Weight in working order: 33.5 tons
Water capacity: 920 gallons
Coal capacity: 36 cu ft