The big day had arrived, and the late Adrian Shooter's Beeches Light Railway was up for auction at his home in Oxfordshire.
The brilliant news is that the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust have secured 1889 Sharp Stewart Built Darjeeling ‘B' Class No. 19.
The DTLT was present at the auction, where Statfold's Graham Lee bid on behalf of the trust.
Emotions were clearly visible after the hammer landed on the winning bid, ranging from relief that the locomotive was safe and could go on tour, to nervous excitement now that the hard work can begin.
The locomotive will now relocate to the Statfold Barn Railway where she will operate until the expiry of her boiler certificate in February
The Trustees will carry out, with Statfold's engineers, a full condition survey of No. 19 and depending on the outcome will determine how often it is steamed at Statfold until the overhaul.
Jeremy Davey, Chair of the DTLT said in the immediate aftermath, “We were as confident as anyone could be about making the winning bid, but nervous that an unknown wealthy bidder might have emerged and taken the ‘B' to a private railway not accessible to the public.”
The locomotive will be relocating immediately to the Statfold Barn Railway where she, it is anticipated, will “Operate until the boiler certificate expires in February, at which point the overhaul will commence with a view to starting her national tour in 2024. More details of the plans for her in 2023 will be announced soon” added Mr Davey.
DTLT Treasurer and Trustee Pete ‘Fuzz' Jordan commented that he would now do the maths and establish how much cash is available for the looming overhaul due in eight months.
Excellent news – and good luck with further plans!