Statfold Barn Railway

The Statfold Barn Railway is a narrow gauge railway based near Tamworth, Staffordshire and partially in Warwickshire, England.[1] Founded by engineering entrepreneur Graham Lee and his wife Carol at their farm-based home, they originally designed what is still termed the garden railway, in which Graham could run his trains and Carol could design an extensive English country garden around a lake.

Statfold Barn Railway
LocaleTamworth, Staffordshire
TerminusStatfold Barn Farm
Coordinates52.6552°N 1.6454°W / 52.6552; -1.6454
Preserved operations
Length1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge; 2 ft 6 in (762 mm); 2 ft (610 mm)
1985opened

Graham Lee chaired the family-owned LH Group, with its main focus on railway engineering services. After LH Group acquired what remained of the Hunslet Engine Company in 2005, Graham pursued the opportunity to acquire the last steam locomotive built by Hunslet. Commissioned in 1971, it had been ordered by Leeds-based Robert Hudson & Co Ltd, who supplied and installed a complete railway system for the Trangkil sugar mill estate in Indonesia. As he pursued the Hunslet, Graham noticed a number of other interesting but defunct steam locomotives of European origin in Indonesia, and set about recovering these as well.

After Wabtec acquired LH Group in 2012, Graham retained the rights to produce steam locomotives under the Hunslet name, via a new company called Statfold Engineering Works Ltd. This company produced the first new steam powered Hunslet in 2006, and also acted as the main restorer of Graham's now extensive collection. In 2017, Graham and Carol Lee gifted the collection of over 100 locomotives and associated vehicles, equipment and ephemera to the newly formed Statfold Barn Railway Trust, to ensure the collection was retained and maintained at its current site.

Today the railway has an extensive workshop where locomotives are built and restored. The railway is not open to the public, but a number of "Enthusiasts' Days" are held each year and interested enthusiasts may apply for an invitation to one of these events.

History

Having acquired Statfold Farm near Tamworth, Staffordshire as their family home, engineer Graham Lee – who had worked his way up through family owned LH Ggoup, and eventually became chairman – persuaded his wife Carol to build a scenic narrow gauge railway 2 ft (610 mm) around their garden and lake.

Happy with the garden railway, it was not until LH Group acquired what remained of the Hunslet Engine Company in 2005, that Graham pursued the opportunity to acquire the last steam locomotive built by Hunslet(and the last steam locomotive to be built in the U.K. for industrial use). Commissioned in 1971 to an original Kerr Stewart design, it had been ordered by Leeds-based Robert Hudson & Co, who supplied and installed a complete railway system for the Trangkil sugar mill estate in Indonesia. Negotiations were conducted via Hunslet's agent in Jakarta, and after visiting the site during negotiations and to supervise the loading of TRANGKIL No.4, Graham noticed a number of other interesting but defunct steam locomotives of European origin in Indonesia, and set about recovering these as well. Pakis Baru and Sragi sugar mills had interesting locomotive fleets and two examples from German manufacturers were acquired from each.[2]

As Indonesia's state environmental laws do not allow the export of scrap-metal, TRANGKIL No.4 together with five other locomotives Graham proposed to export back to the UK had to be shown in steam and moving. Whilst TRANGKIL No.4 was still 2 ft gauge, the other five locomotives were built to the more common European 2 ft 6inches gauge. Graham hence built with friends what is now term the mainline – in dual 2 ft and 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge – which runs around the outside in a basic oval shape of the original garden railway. Thus was formed the Statfold Barn Railway, and its core collection.[2]

After Wabtec acquired LH Group in 2012, Graham retained the rights to produce steam locomotives under the Hunslet name, via a new company called Statfold Engineering Works Ltd. This company produced the first new steam powered Hunslet in 2006, and also acted as the main restorer of Graham's now extensive collection.[2] In March 2010 some 51 locomotives were based on the Statfold Barn Railway, either operable or waiting for restoration or rebuild.

In 2017, Graham and Carol Lee gifted the collection of over 100 locomotives and associated vehicles, equipment and ephemera to the newly formed Statfold Barn Railway Trust, to ensure the collection was retained and maintained at its current site.

Today the railway has an extensive workshop where locomotives are built and restored. The 'Field Railway' is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long with a "balloon loop" at one end with a station at the other end, originally with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) mixed gauge. There is a passing loop halfway along the line which has a single platform 'Oak Tree Halt' and a siding heading off to storage facilities in the 'Grain Store' roundhouse. There is also a separate (but connected) loop line 'Garden Railway' of 2 ft (610 mm) gauge round an ornamental lake. Alongside the core 2 ft and 2 ft 6inch collection, the museum also displays locomotives of other gauges including 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge, 18 in (457 mm) and 2 ft 6 in (762 mm), and other vehicles.

For the 2017 season, a narrow gauge tram track was laid in concrete parallel to the level section of the Field Railway incorporating an 18 in (457 mm) mixed gauge rail line. The running shed had a triple gauge line leading down into the standard gauge storage sidings and then across the Field Railway where a short stub led into a field.

Rolling Stock

Steam locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
Hodbarrow 299 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Hunslet 1882 Exhibit [3]
Minas de Aller No. 2 439 0-6-0PT 600 mm (1 ft 11 58 in)[3] Corpet-Louvet 1884 Coal mines, Aller, Asturias, Spain Operational Restored to working order in 2012.
King of the Scarlets 492 0-4-0ST 1 ft 10 34 in (578 mm)[3] Hunslet 1889 Dinorwic Quarry Awaiting restoration to working order as of 2017. In original open-cab form. In Canada 1965–2012.
Sragi No. 1 4045 0-4-2T 2 ft (610 mm) Krauss 1899 Sragi Sugar Mill, Pekalongan, Central Java Operational Restored to working order in 2008.
Pakis Baru No. 1 614 0-4-0WTT 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Orenstein & Koppel 1900 Exhibit Restored to working order in June 2006.
Pakis Baru No. 5 1473 0-4-4-0T
Mallet
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Orenstein & Koppel 1905 Pakis Baru Sugar Mill in Pati, Central Java Exhibit Restored to working order in March 2007.
Sybil Mary 921 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hunslet 1906 Penrhyn Quarry Operational Restored to working order in 2013 in original open-cab form.
No. 11 Fiji 972 0-6-0 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hudswell Clarke 1912 Lautoka sugar mill, Fiji Operational Converted to diesel for operation on a tourist railway. Returned to UK in 2011, arrived at Statfold in 2012 and restored to working order in its original steam form in 2014. Overhauled in 2020.
5662 0-4-0WT 2 ft (610 mm) Orenstein & Koppel 1912 Argentina Awaiting restoration
No. 19 1056 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hudswell Clarke 1914 Lautoka sugar mill, Fiji Operational Restored to working order in 2013.
Saccharine 13355 0-4-2T 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Fowler 1914 Sugar plantation in South Africa Operational Restored to working order in 2010. Overhauled in 2020.
3010 0-6-0WT 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Kerr, Stuart and Company 1916 French Government Artillery Railways Awaiting restoration as of 2017. First imported to UK for preservation in 1974.
WDLR 779 44657 4-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Baldwin 1916 British War Department Light Railways, France; Ryam Sugar Company, Bihar state, India Undergoing restoration[4]
1586 0-4-0 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Davenport 1917 Ryam Sugar Company, Bihar state, India Operational Restored to working order in 2015.
1735 0-6-0WT 2 ft (610 mm) Decauville 1919 French Government Artillery Railways, Mozambique Dismantled as of 2017 Imported for preservation 2000.
14928 0-8-0T 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Henschel 1917 Deutsche Feldbahn; Marromeu sugar mill, Mozambique Awaiting restoration, for sale as of 2017
2 Roger 3128 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Kerr, Stuart and Company 1918 Imperial Smelting Co., Avonmouth, Bristol Operational Formerly spent some time in Canada. Mainly used on the Garden Railway.
6 Howard (previously Paddy) 2 0-4-0VBT 2 ft (610 mm)[3] 'Wilbrighton Wagon Works' 2007 Amerton Railway Operational Incorporates older components. Mainly used on the Garden Railway. Last overhauled in 2014.
Alpha 1172 0-6-0PT 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hudswell Clarke 1922 Ryam Sugar Company, Bihar Operational Restored to working order in 2016.[5]
Sragi No. 14 Max 10705 0-6-0WTT 2 ft (610 mm) Orenstein & Koppel 1923 Sragi Sugar Mill, Pekalongan, Central Java. Operational
Liassic 1632 0-6-0ST 1 ft 11 12 in (597 mm)[3] Peckett 1923 Southam Cement Works, Warwickshire Operational as of 2017 Restored to working order in 2017.
No. GP 39 1643 0-6-0WT 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hudswell Clarke 1930 Surrey County Council Highways Department Operational Penrhyn Slate Quarry Bronllwyd, then at Bressingham Steam Museum 1966–2010. Overhauled in 2017.
Jatibarang 9 4878 0-4-4-0T
Mallet
2 ft (610 mm) Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik 1930 Jatibarang Sugar Mill, Brebes, Indonesia Operational Restored to working order in 2011.
Cegin 1991 0-4-0WT 2 ft (610 mm) Andrew Barclay 1931 Penrhyn Slate Quarry Undergoing restoration as of 2017. In North America 1965–2016.
Michael 1709 0-4-0ST 1 ft 10 34 in (578 mm)[3] Hunslet 1932 Dinorwic Quarry Awaiting restoration to working order as of 2017. In Canada 1965–2012.
Ogwen 2066 0-4-0T 2 ft (610 mm) Avonside 1933 Penrhyn Quarry Visiting[5] In United States 1965–2012.
Marchlyn 2067 0-4-0T 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Avonside 1933 Penrhyn Quarry Operational In United States 1965–2011; restored to working order in 2012.
Howard No. 2 (previously Lady Morrison) 1842 0-4-2ST 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Hunslet 1936 British Aluminium Company, Fort William Operational Restored to saddle tank form in 2014.
Harrogate 2050 0-6-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Peckett 1944 Harrogate Gas Works Operational Overhauled in 2015.
Isibutu 2820 4-4-0T 2 ft (610 mm)[3] W. G. Bagnall 1945 Tongaat Sugar, Natal Undergoing overhaul
Wendy 2091 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) W. G. Bagnall 1919 Dorothea Quarry, Nantlle Valley (previously Votty & Bowydd Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog) Operational Donated by Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 2019.
Tamar 3756 0-4-2PT 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1952 Cameroon Development Corporation Undergoing restoration Kerr, Stuart Tamar class design.[5]
Trangkil No. 4 3902 0-4-2ST 750 mm (2 ft 5 12 in) regauged 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1971 Trangkil Sugar Mill, Pati, Central Java Operational
Gertrude 995 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1909 Penrhyn Quarry Sectioned exhibit Open cab. In Canada from early 1960s to 2017.
Cloister 542 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1891 Dinorwic Quarry Operational Donated by Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 2019.
Statfold 3903 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 2005 Statfold Barn Railway Operational Cab. Overhauled in 2017.[6]
Jack Lane 3904 0-4-0ST 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 2005 Statfold Barn Railway Operational Open cab. Overhauled in 2016.[6]
K1 5292 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt 2 ft (610 mm) Beyer, Peacock and Company 1909 Tasmanian Government Railways K class Operational Transferred temporarily from Welsh Highland Railway 2019 for overhaul, which was completed in 2020.
Jack 684 0-4-0ST 18 in (457 mm) Hunslet 1898 John Knowles (fireclay works), Woodville, Derbyshire Operational as of 2018 Restored to working order in 1982.
Woolwich 1748 0-4-0T 18 in (457 mm) Avonside 1915 Royal Arsenal Railway, Woolwich Undergoing overhaul. Donated to the railway in 2020.

Diesel locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
1891 4wDM 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) Plymouth Locomotive Works 1924 a quarry in Ohio Unknown [7]
20777 0-4-0DM 2 ft (610 mm) Orenstein & Koppel 1936 ex Kriegsmarine (Keil), ex Norden Clay Works, Dorset, ex Durley Light Railway. Operational [7]
Sam 2019 0-4-0DM 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet for Robert Hudson 1939 RNAD Broughton Moor Unknown Flameproof [7]
Atlas 2463 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1941 Ministry of Defence depot, Long Marston, Warwickshire, later to Abbey Light Railway Unknown [7]
3621 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet for Robert Hudson 1947 Under restoration as of 2017
Charley 9976 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Motor Rail 1954 Somerset River Board Operational [7]
Brambridge Hall 5226 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Motor Rail 1936 Hall & Co., Brambridge gravel pits, Colden Common (previously A. E. Farr, Winchester By-Pass construction) Operational Donated by Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 2019.
AGWI Pet 4724 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Motor Rail 1939 Anglo Gulf West Indies Petroleum Corporation, Fawley Refinery Operational Donated by Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 2019.
5800 4wDM 3 ft (914 mm) regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) Plymouth 1954 St Marys Cement Company, Ohio Operational [7]
418776 or 418767 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Ruston & Hornsby 1957 Canada Unknown [7]
6137 4wDM 3 ft (914 mm) regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) Plymouth 1958 St Marys Cement Company, Ohio Operational [7]
W114H 6720 4wDH 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet-Taylor 1965 Western Reefs Gold Mine, South Africa Operational [7]
N13H 7588 4wDH 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet-Taylor 1968 Vaal Reefs Gold Mine, South Africa Unknown [7]
WELSH HIGHLAND No. 5 6285 4wDM 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1968 Millom Haematite Ore & Iron Co Ltd Unknown Returned to Welsh Highland Heritage Railway 2017[7][8]
35 7010
6941
4wDH 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet, rebuilt by Andrew Barclay 1971 rebuilt 1988 Eastriggs Unknown [7]
40SD503 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm) Motor Rail 1975 Minworth sewage treatment works Operational [7]
8819 4wDH Originally 3 ft (914 mm), now 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1979 Nantgarw Colliery Unknown [7]
Tom D1447
8847
0-6-0DM 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hudswell Clarke post acquisition by Hunslet 1981 John Summers & Sons steelworks, Shotton, Flintshire Unknown [7]
A10 3782 4wDH 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) Baguley-Drewry 1984 RNAD Trecwn Sold to Amerton Railway 2017 [7]
9294 4wDH 3 ft (914 mm) Hunslet 1991 British Coal, Stillingfleet Mine, Yorkshire Unknown Flameproof [7]
9351 4wDH 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1991 Hire to Balfour Beatty Amec Joint Venture for London Underground Jubilee Line Extension construction, later to Lower Lea Valley Cable Tunnels construction Unknown [7]
9332 4wDH 2 ft (610 mm) Hunslet 1994 Jan-Pan, Singapore Operational [7]
D4 1001 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Funkey Unknown Unknown [7]
D5 1033 4wDM 2 ft (610 mm)[3] Funkey Unknown Unknown [7]
Carnegie 4524 0-4-4-0DM 18 in (457 mm) Hunslet 1954 Royal Arsenal Railway, Woolwich Awaiting restoration Delivered 2020.

Petrol locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
680 0-4-0PM 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Baguley 1916 Jacob's biscuits, Aintree (originally Ministry of Munitions National Filling Factory No 2) Originally paraffin powered, changed to petrol in 1927[7]
774 0-4-0PM 2 ft (610 mm) Baguley 1919 Timber Supply Department railway at Pennal, then Oakeley Slate Quarry, then preserved by Rodney Weaver, sold to Gloddfa Ganol, purchased by the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, cosmetically restored at the Amerton Railway Unknown Stored at Statfold between 2008 and 2012, then returned to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn [9]
8 39924 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Robert Hudson 1924 Cairngryffe Quarry Unknown [7]
36863 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Robert Hudson c1929 Restored Paraffin powered; restored 1987
INCO No 3 4049 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Vulcan Iron Works 1929 Inco Nickel Refinery, Port Colborne, Ontario Converted to run on propane[5]
INCO No 5 4196 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Vulcan Iron Works 1936 Inco Nickel Refinery, Port Colborne, Ontario [10]
Charles 3746 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Brookville 1951 Nichols Chemical Company, Sulphide Ontario Unknown [7]
38384 4wPM 2 ft (610 mm) Robert Hudson 1930 Steelworks, Staveley, Derbyshire Under restoration [7]

Compressed Air locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
Sid 9902 0-4-0CA 2 ft (610 mm) Etherington/Statfold Barn Railway 2009 [7]

Electric locomotives

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
6092 4wBE 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Wingrove & Rogers 1958 Beckermet Mining Co Ltd [7]
420253 4wBE 2 ft (610 mm) Greenwood & Batley 1970 Weardale Lead Co Ltd Operational [7]
5940A 4wBE 2 ft (610 mm) Clayton Equipment Company 1972 Streeters [7]
The Coalition 1278 0-4-0E 2 ft (610 mm) W. G. Bagnall, rebuilt by Llechwedd quarry 1890, rebuilt c.1930 Llechwedd quarry Awaiting restoration Rebuilt from 0-4-0T Edith. Loaned from Slate Heritage International 2019[11]
The Eclipse 1445 0-4-0E 2 ft (610 mm) W. G. Bagnall, rebuilt by Llechwedd quarry 1895, rebuilt 1927 Llechwedd quarry Awaiting restoration Rebuilt from 0-4-0ST. Loaned from Slate Heritage International 2019[12]

Railcars

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
Libbie 1097 2w-2PM 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Baguley 1920 École Chemin de Fer, France Operational [7]
4091 2w-2PMR 3 ft (914 mm) Wickham 1946 Dismantled[3] [7]
4164 2w-2PMR 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Wickham 1948 Dismantled[3] [7]
5864 2w-2PMR 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Wickham 1951 Dismantled[3] [7]
DX 68010
DB965987
7073 2w-2PMR 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Wickham 1955 Unknown [7][3]
3170 Target trolley 2 ft (610 mm) Wickham c.1943 Ministry of Supply, Lydd Ranges Operational Loaned from The Rail Trolley Trust 2020[13]
(4164) 4wDMR Convertible from 2 ft (610 mm) up to 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) J Craven 1987 Converted from a Wickham trolley built in 1948[7][3]
9903 4w-2DM 2 ft (610 mm) Land Rover converted at Statfold Barn Railway 2009 Operational [7][3]
The Goose 4-4wPMR[3] 2 ft (610 mm) Statfold Barn Railway 2015 Operational Built on Morris lorry chassis[10]
14/3 252319 2w-2PMR 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Fairmont ? Canada Unknown [7][3]
CN 168-31 2w-2PMR 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Fairmont ? Canada Unknown [7][3]
2w-2PMR 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) Fairmont ? Canada Unknown [7][3]

Trams

Identity Works Number Type Gauge Builder Year Built Previous Operator Status Notes Image
14 Single Truck, Double Deck (open Top) 900 mm (2 ft 11 716 in) Brush 1906 Midland Railway, Burton and Ashby Light Railway Operational[5] Previously 3'6" gauge. Withdrawn when the Burton & Ashby Light Railways were closed in 1927. Body survived in a garden in Church Gresley until removed for preservation circa 1970. Exported to Detroit USA 1976 where it was mounted on a Lisbon tramways 900mm gauge truck. Returned to UK 2014 and rebuilt at Statfold with a Clayton battery electric traction package.

Unpowered passenger stock

In May 2014 the railway obtained a rake of four passenger coaches, originally built in 1984 for the Thorpe Park theme park, and latterly used on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.[14] In 2019 it was donated a coach which originated with the Ramsgate Tunnel Railway of 1936.

References

  1. Little, Lawson (2008). Annual Guide to Narrow Gauge and Miniature Railways in the British Isles and Ireland: 2008. Narrow Gauge Railway Society.
  2. https://www.statfold.com/the-hunslet
  3. Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. 17EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2015. ISBN 978 1 901556 88 9.
  4. Historic Military Vehicle Forum. 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  5. Statfold Barn Railway (2017). Guide Book & Stock List Update March 2017. Statfold Barn Railway.
  6. Statfold Barn Railway Guide & Stock List, Issue 2.
  7. The Statfold Barn Railway (2014). Guide Book & Stock List. Statfold Barn Railway.
  8. "No.5". Festipedia. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  9. Quine, Dan (March 2017). "Baguley 774 and the Pennal Tramway". Industrial Railway Record.
  10. Statfold Barn Railway (2015). Guide Book & Stock List Update September 2015. Statfold Barn Railway.
  11. "The Coalition". Festipedia. Festiniog Railway Heritage Group. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. "The Eclipse". Festipedia. Festiniog Railway Heritage Group. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. "Target trolley goes to Statfold". Narrow Gauge World (147): 12. May 2020.
  14. "Thorpe Park Carriages". Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
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