Kent & East Sussex Railway

PECKETT 0-4-0 SIDE TANK

No. 12 Marcia

A diminutive locomotive which weighs barely 12 tons. Marcia's low pitched boiler, outside cylinders and tiny coupled wheels combine to create and overall impression of smallness, appearing as if for a narrower gauge, as indeed were several others within the 1287 class. It was constructed by Pecket and Sons of Bristol in 1923 (works No. 1631). It is an unusual design for a firm which usually specialised in robust saddletanks for heavy industrial work. The first owner was Hardman & Holden of Salford near Manchester where it was named Marcia after Marcia Clayton the wife of James Clayton the works Managing Director. The firm donated the locomotive to the K&ESR in 1962. She was later sold to a member and remains in his ownership.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Marcia was in regular use at steam events at Bodiam, as station pilot at Tenterden and was often roving ambassador for the Railway at County Shows and other outdoor exhibitions. At Bodiam passengers rode behind a locomotive which seemingly worked flat out at 10 mph! Marcia was withdrawn from service in 1982 for a 10 yearly boiler lift and inspection. New watertanks were also needed. Restoration has proceeded slowly but steadily since, most of the work being undertaken by the locomotive's owner and completion is now within sight.

TECHNICAL DATA

Weight 12 tons
Tractive effort 3,870 lbs
Cylinders (2) 8. dia x 12 in. stroke
Boiler Pressure 160 lbs.
Tank capacity 550 gallons
Wheels 2 feet 3 ins. diameter.