‘Nutty', the only surviving narrow-gauge Sentinel steam locomotive, has moved from Stonehenge Works on the the Leighton Buzzard Railway to its new long-term home at Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (WLLR).
The locomotive previously had a spell at WLLR in the 1960s and '70s.
The chain-driven locomotive (works no. 7701), which has four wheels and a vertical boiler, will feature on static display at the railway's '60 Years of Preservation' celebration next weekend (Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June), and then remain on long-term loan.
Nutty is a one of three locomotives built in the 1920s for the London Brick Company at Peterborough, and was originally 2ft 11in gauge, which is mostly used for light urban rail networks, industrial and agricultural railways.
It was named after ‘Nutty' Rowell, the driver/fitter who kept it in service for thirty years.
In 1964, ‘Nutty' was donated to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum (NGRM) Trust, which re-gauged it to 2ft 6in and loaned it to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway where it worked on shunting duties until it was taken out of service in the 1970s and moved to Tywyn. It was stored in a gunpowder store building, and later moved to a temporary building behind the Old Museum.
In 1991, ‘Nutty' was loaned to Whipsnade Zoo for restoration, but once dismantled, the work ceased. In 1994, it moved to Peterborough's Railworld, and in 1996 moved again to a nearby engineering works where it was re-assembled and restored, before being loaned to the Leighton Buzzard Railway in 2012 where it was on public display until now
The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway was keen to bring ‘Nutty' back to its former home, and the Museum Trust agreed the transfer with both the railways involved.
Keith Theobald, Chairman of the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Trust, said: “It is good to see this unique loco going to Welshpool with which it has strong historical links, and where it will gain a fresh audience. We are very grateful to our friends at the Leighton Buzzard Railway for looking after “Nutty” so well for the last 11 years.”
Terry Bendall, Chairman of the Leighton Buzzard Railway, said: ”It has been a privilege to give ‘Nutty' a home for more than 10 years, creating extra interest for our visitors, and we are glad to see it go now to another equally suitable location on another of Britain's brilliant narrow-gauge railways.”
James Brett, General Manager of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, said “It is great that we have been able to get ‘Nutty' back in Welshpool for this year's big celebrations. We are grateful to the Museum Trust for agreeing to the loan, and to the people at Leighton Buzzard who have worked very hard to make the physical move possible so quickly.”
