Bodmin and Wenford Railway based Pannier tank, No. 6435, has found a new owner after being put up for sale recently.
West Somerset Railway Chairman, Jonathan Jones Pratt, has purchased the locomotive after a trip to the railway.
Also in the sale is the autocoach that was also up for sale.
A restoration plan will be finalised soon when the next best steps for the locomotive will be confirmed
Jonathan Jones Pratt has, however, stressed that the priority is still on returning Kinlet Hall back to service, with more updates to be released soon.
The new owner has also confirmed that the locomotives new home will be the West Somerset Railway, where Pannier tank 9466, also owned by Jonathan, is based.
Jonathan Jones Pratt said “After a trip to Bodmin we have agreed to purchase 6435 Pannier Tank and the autocoach. We're very thankful to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway for allowing JJPH to add this fine set up to our heritage Railway fleet, I am really looking forward to bringing her home”
Popular West Somerset Railway gifts
6435’s capability on the WSR should be pretty clear, given the line was long-term home to her sister 6412. As I understand it, 4 coach loading is an acceptable limit on the gradients either side of Washford and Crowcombe.
OK, as someone who regards ‘Mogul’ 9351 as precisely what the GW would’ve done, had their requirements dictated it, I’m officially intrigued. The addition of a small loco certainly adds some welcome variety to the WSR ‘home fleet’ and it’ll be interesting to see how it dovetails into an operation which, since the Bagnall twins left, has historically employed rather larger prime movers (that’s the steam engines, dear).
On many lines, of varying gauges, I’ve been wondering for years about the wisdom of fixed rake operations on “shoulder” services. Coal consumption does vary with load and although twenty years back, there was coal to burn (!), that’s certainly no longer the case.
I’ve no clue what sort of load a 64xx could handle over WSR gradients, but this useful P-P fitted class certainly routinely handled a couple of autocoaches on Tavistock services. Amongst all the impressive large (Hall) and very large (Castle, King) hauled rakes, if there’s a good economic case for running this little gem, sandwiched between autocoahes, making lighter trains economically viable I for one would be delighted …. even if I’m very glad I’ll not be the one firing on a long route in a small cab!!
I wonder, are peak season Minehead – Blue Anchor / Watchet shuttles perhaps envisaged? It would be a shame if this fine little loco was restricted to occasional demonstration freight and double heading on high days and holidays.