This locomotive was built in 1917
by Manning Wardle (works No. 1955) . She has been described
as the sole remaining example of that manufacturer’s
class O, although she was described on delivery as a '15"
special' Her first owner was the Parkgate
Iron and Steel Company of Charwelton, Northamptonshire. There
she worked virtually single handed on ironstone quarry lines
for upwards of 25 years. By the beginning of World War 2 Charwelton
was almost worn out and was transferred by Parkgate to their
Sproxton quarry in Lincolnshire where two years were spent
undergoing major overhaul. the quarry railway at Sproxton
was closed in 1963 and Charwelton came to
the K&ESR in January 1964.
Charwelton was steamed for works trains on
a number of occasions but on overhaul in 1973 was found to
have severe cracking in the firebox walls. In 1976 it was
sold to a member and restored away from the Railway. It returned
in September 1982, immaculately turned out in its original
lined umber livery, and with its newly fitted vacuum brake
equipment was soon working passenger services. It was withdrawn
in May 1983 for repairs to its axle boxes following derailment
damage. After a short period on the Keighley and Worth Valley
Railway, the locomotive returned to the K&ESR in March
1986 and was a frequent performer with the Victorian Train.
In April1998 Charwelton became the second
K&ESR locomotive to pay a short visit to the Baye de Somme
Railway in northern France. Withdrawn for a routine overhaul
in 2001 she is presently being readied for re-assembly.
TECHNICAL DATA
Builder: Manning Wardle
Weight 28 tons 15 cwt
Tractive effort 7,810 lbs.
Cylinders (2) 15 in. dia x 22 in. stroke
Boiler Pressure 150 lbs.
Wheels 3 feet 9 ins. diameter.
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