Author Topic: Two-footers traveling home  (Read 1189 times)

Ted Miles

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Two-footers traveling home
« on: April 11, 2022, 02:08:01 PM »
A pair of two-foot gauge locomotives from the Lord Penryhn Quarries have been in Terre Haute, Indiana for rhe past fourty years. The #12 was built by Avendale Engine Company at Bristol in 1933 of 7.5-tons and the #15 was built by Andrew Barclay & Sons at Kilmarnick, Scotland in 1931 of 7.5-tons.
I am glad to see them back home in England. There was a third similar locomotive on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation; but I do not know where she has gone to.

The two locomotves have been sold to the Beamish Open Air Museum at Durham, UK. They are the oldest and largest restoration village in the UK; and have both a standard gauge railroad and a 24-inch quarry railroad. Over the April 9-10, 2022 weekend they held their annual Steam Festival; with steam cars, steam traction engines a steam crane and of course steam locos running over their two railroads. The #12 Glyder looks very nice!   

Ted Miles, WW&F Member, narrow gauge

John L Dobson

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Re: Two-footers traveling home
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2022, 12:32:57 PM »
These two locomotives were both built in the early 1930s for the Burnhope reservoir scheme of the Durham County Water Board, which involved building a large dam. An extensive narrow-gauge railway system was built to carry materials, using a fleet of small contractor's locomotives, at least six of which were bought new for the contract. Four of the locomotives were sold on to the Penrhyn Quarry when the contract was completed about four years later, and two more went to the neighbouring Dinorwic Quarry. AFAIK all six have been preserved.
John L Dobson
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Philip Marshall

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Re: Two-footers traveling home
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2022, 06:59:51 PM »
The two locomotves have been sold to the Beamish Open Air Museum at Durham, UK. They are the oldest and largest restoration village in the UK; and have both a standard gauge railroad and a 24-inch quarry railroad. Over the April 9-10, 2022 weekend they held their annual Steam Festival; with steam cars, steam traction engines a steam crane and of course steam locos running over their two railroads. The #12 Glyder looks very nice!   

A nice video of the 2022 Beamish Steam Gala has already been posted on their Youtube channel. The rail portion of the program begins around 3:19.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdoGTk5luJI