Locomotive “Saccharine”
to be renamed “Green Dragon”
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Fowler 0-4-2 Tank Locomotive “Saccharine” to be renamed “Green Dragon” |
Locomotive History:-
This 0-4-2 tank steam locomotive, was built by Fowler of Leeds, England in 1914, works No. 13355. It was working on a sugar plantation, near Durban in South Africa, hauling sugar-cane until 1979. It was later reimported to Britain and used to haul trains on the Alford Valley Railway, at Alford, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The locomotive obtained the name, Saccharine, from its previous employment in South Africa. It was believed to be one of only four remaining locomotives of its type.
Due to insufficient cash and volunteers to maintain the locomotive at Alford Valley Railway, it was advertised for sale in early 2005. Also the cost of insuring the locomotive was around £5,000 per year, which was beyond the line’s operating budget and the locomotive needed a considerable amount of work to keep it going. It was bought by a Jim Rees of Stanhope, County Durham and the locomotive left the Aberdeenshire line on 6th March 2005 for pastures new, eventually ending up at Alston for storage.
Photo: Saccharine at the Alford Valley Railway. Courtesy of Alford Valley Railway website.
Locomotive Details and Restoration:-
The purchaser of the Fowler 0-4-2 tank steam locomotive, Saccharine, (built in 1914, works No. 13355), moved the locomotive from the Alford Valley Railway to the South Tynedale Railway on 16th and 17th March 2005. The owner, will be working on locomotive at Alston, in addition to have over necessary overhaul work done off site, at other works premises. The owner anticipates that it could be a couple of years before it can be steamed again.
The Fowler 0-4-2 tank steam locomotive, named Saccharine while at the Alford Valley Railway, is to be renamed Green Dragon by its new owner.
The patterns for the new nameplates have been prepared although the castings have yet to be made. The locomotive has also been repainted at its temporary home at Alston, on the South Tynedale Railway. The new livery is described as lined GNRish green.
This locomotive left Alston on Sunday 25th March 2007, on a low loader lorry to undergo overhaul work at various venues. When completed, it is expected to return to Alston for steam tests and it is later expected to be based at Kielder in Northumberland for a new two foot narrow gauge railway to be rebuilt along part of the former Border Counties line between Riccarton Junction and Reedsmouth. It is planned to connect Kielder village with a new water ferry landing near Gowanburn on the north shore of Kieder reservoir, and could take in the 150 year old Kielder viaduct. A carriage for the railway has already been built and a business case for the line is currently being discussed with the Kielder Partnership.
An article which was published in the December 2006 issue of Heritage Railway magazine, stated that this locomotive, when restored to working order at a future date may be used on a new proposed narrow gauge rebuild of part of the former Border Counties line between Riccarton Junction and Reedsmouth. It is planned to build a 2 foot gauge line to tie in with facilities around Kielder Water in Northumberland.
The railway proposed by the owners of the locomotive, Jim and Kate Rees of Stanhope, would connect Kielder village with a new water ferry landing near Gowanburn on the north shore of Kieder reservoir, and could take in the 150 year old Kielder viaduct. A business case for the line is currently being discussed with the Kielder Partnership.
A more recent short article, published in the August 2007 issue of The Railway Magazine, stated that the locomotive Green Dragon had been moved to a private site in Yorkshire, where the tanks and pony truck have been removed. It also stated that heavy repairs to the rear of the frames of the locomotive are required as part of its restoration.
Photo: The fully repainted Fowler 0-4-2T in the shed at Alston before preparations for the boiler lift were undertaken. The photograph is by Kate Rees and appeared in The Railway Magazine, February 2006 issue.
Dimensions:-
To be advised.
Livery:-
As shown in the above two photographs.
For more information about the South Tynedale Railway, please contact:-
THE SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY,
Registered Office Address:-
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Telephone 01434 381696.
Talking timetable - Telephone 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.
Limited by Guarantee: Company Registration No. 1850832 (England).E-mail enquiries - please click on links below:
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Tynedalesman compilersThis page was last updated on 21st June 2008.
© South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2008.