In September
2014, the Moseley Railway Trust returned a 1916 built Hudswell Clarke steam
locomotive to operation on the Apedale Valley Light Railway. Built in Leeds,
the locomotive worked in Africa before being returned to the UK in 2008.
Unfortunately, the locomotive was in very poor condition. It had lain in a
river bed from 1948 to 1996 before being rediscovered and placed outside an
office building at a gold mine in Ghana. The rediscovery was made by a UK-based
mining engineer, Colin Laidler. Colin spent many months searching for the
locomotive and, after its accidental rediscovery, arranging its recovery.
Amongst other things, Colin managed to recover various locomotive parts which
had been acquired by local villagers. Famously, he found a key component was
in use supporting a village cooking pot; he swapped a bottle of schnapps for this
much-needed part!
In 2010, the
Moseley Railway Trust commenced the restoration project, which proved ultimately
to be an extremely expensive undertaking. One of the key funders for this
project was the Stanhope family with funding provided in memory of the late
Terry Stanhope, a noted enthusiast of narrow gauge railways. Amongst his other
accomplishments, Terry built his own railway at his property near Leeds.
The
restoration work was carried out by a small team of Moseley Railway Trust
members, and this has brought the locomotive to the superb condition in which
it can now be seen at Apedale. In April 2015, the Stanhope family and Colin
Laidler were able to come to Apedale and see the Hudswell Clarke steam
locomotive at work.
Phil
Robinson, Moseley Railway Trust Chairman said - It was a real privilege to host
the visit by the Stanhope family and Colin Laidler. The restoration of this
locomotive has been a huge team effort. Without the combined effort and
commitment of Colin, the Stanhope family, and all the Moseley Railway Trust
members who worked on the locomotive, this historic machine would still be a
silent hulk rather than the immaculate working machine we have today. It will
stand as a lasting testimony to all those people, and also a fitting memorial
for Terry Stanhope
The 1916
Hudswell Clarke will be in operation at the Apedale Valley Light Railway’s
forthcoming Locos from Leeds Gala on May 16 & 17. This event will celebrate
locomotives built by the Leeds manufacturers. A sister Hudswell Clarke steam
locomotive will be visiting the railway, and there will be a wide range of
attractions for all – railway enthusiasts and all the family!
