The National Trust has chosen to focus its railway exhibition at Penryhn Castle exclusively on the Penrhyn Quarry Railway.
As part of this decision, the National Trust has generously gifted the 0-4-0 saddle tank industrial steam locomotive, ‘Kettering Furnace No. 3,' to the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway in the Republic of Ireland.
This move represents a long-cherished dream come true for the charity running the railway, to own its own steam locomotive.
This move follows the gifting of other locomotives from the National Trust collection at Penrhyn Castle to another railway, as reported by RailAdvent.
Constructed in 1885 by Black Hawthorn & Co at their Gateshead works, Kettering Furnace No. 3 is a 3-foot gauge locomotive originally built for the Kettering Coal and Iron Company in Nottinghamshire. It faithfully served the company throughout its operational life.
The Kettering Coal and Iron Company operated an extensive network of rail and tramways in the East Midlands, facilitating the transportation of coal and iron ore to regional furnaces. Following nationalization in 1951 under the Iron and Steel Act, the company eventually ceased operations in 1962. At this juncture, Kettering Furnace No. 3 found a new home with the National Trust at Penrhyn Castle, where it remained until its recent transfer to the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway.
Among the seven steam locomotives owned by the Kettering Coal and Iron Company, only Kettering Furnace No. 3 and No. 6, a 0-6-0 locomotive currently held by the Welland Valley Vintage Traction Club, were fortunate enough to survive and be preserved.
Despite its last steaming in 1962, Kettering Furnace No. 3 remains remarkably intact. Its new custodians are determined to breathe new life into the locomotive, with ambitions to eventually see it pulling trains along an extension of their existing track into the town of Waterford.
The locomotive will undergo a thorough assessment after being dismantled. Restoration work will then commence, with an estimated cost of approximately €250,000.00 anticipated for the necessary repairs. Additionally, some infrastructure improvements at Kilmeadan Station on the railway will be undertaken to accommodate No. 3's operations.
The work to restore the locomotive has been entrusted to a specialist company based in the north of England.
The project marks an exciting chapter in the preservation of this historic locomotive, ensuring its legacy endures for generations to come.
The Waterford and Suir Valley Railway will be holding fundraising events to help fund the work and seeking donations. More details can be found on their website.
Alan Moore, Voluntary Director and Company Secretary of Waterford & Suir Valley Railway Company CLG, said:
“I cannot communicate adequately the level of excitement at this announcement. When the company was formed the mission statement included an ambition to one day operate with steam, we are now one big step closer to achieving this.
“We are so grateful to the National Trust for transferring ownership of the Kettering Furnaces No. 3 locomotive to us. We hope to do them proud as we endeavour to restore this beautiful locomotive to its former glory and to put it back into operation.”
Maria Kyte, General Manager, Waterford & Suir Valley Railway Company CLG said:
“This is an amazing milestone for Waterford & Suir Valley Railway Company CLG, but it is also a huge commitment for the company. Several companies who specialise in the restoration of heritage
It’s a shame a suitable home couldn’t have been found in its once native Northamptonshire, but equally my best wishes go to the W&SVR and their endeavours to get KF No3 going again!
Well done NT you are helping the preservation movement.