Fawley Museum
'Sir Vincent' joins us at Fawley
David Buck's iconic Aveling and Porter 0-4-0WT locomotive 'Sir Vincent' arrived at Fawley in late April and will stay for the NTT Festival on 17th-19th May. (see the Events page for details). Although not powerful enough to pull trains up the hill, it was put to good use during our first Invitation Day, carrying passengers in one of our Shark wagons in the station yard. Despite the wet conditions early in the day, a great time was had by all.
The narrow cab is a challenge for the driver and visibility is extremely limited especially when pulling a standard width wagon . Coal is carried under the driver's seat which makes firing the locomotive an exercise in gymnastics.
Shunting in the yard
Driver's eye view
Didcot's King George to visit Fawley Hill
Locomotive 2409 ' King George' is due to visit Fawley Hill for the NTT Fawley Hill Vintage Festival over the weekend of 17th - 19th May. Here she is at Didcot, posing in front of 0-4-0T locomotive 1340 'Trojan' which visited Fawley Hill at the end of last year. (See the video at the bottom of this page).
We are looking forward to seeing how well King George deals with the 1 in 13 gradient from Bourne Again to Somersham.
King George was built by the Hunslet Engine Company in 1942, being delivered new to Lindby colliery in Nottinghamshire. She worked at two other collieries before moving to Ecclestone, Derbyshire.
After being sold for scrap, she was rescued and moved to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway where she was restored to working order. She was moved to Didcot in 2011 where a full overhaul was undertaken. Side tanks were fitted to replace the original saddle tank.
No 31 - Progress Report; March 2024
Following its arrival at the Didcot Railway Centre in January, No 31 had its saddle tank removed outside before the engine and tank were moved indoors. The tank, stripped of its nameplates and other fittings, has been placed on timber blocks to await further work. The boiler has been lifted and placed elsewhere in the workshop for the replacement of the boiler tubes to commence.
Our Locomotives
Hudswell Clarke & Co 0-6-0ST 'No 31'
No 31 is the resident steam locomotive at Fawley. Ordered by the Ministry of Fuel and Power, it was built in 1913 and delivered new to Robert McAlpine & Sons, Cuffley. It was painted in Caledonian Blue, a colour that it retained throughout its working life.
It worked on a number of building contracts including Wembley Stadium (1923-1924), RAF Boscombe Down (1944) and Llanwern Steelworks (1960-1961). The locomotive was rebuilt by Hudswell Clark & Co in 1938.
No 31 went into storage at McAlpine’s yard at Hayes in 1961 and remained there until it was identified for scrapping in1965. At this point, Sir William decided to give No 31 a new life in retirement and purchased the locomotive. No 31 arrived at Fawley in September 1965 and was subsequently repainted in GWR Brunswick green livery. Above the smokebox door is carried loco shed plate 81M – a code unique to Fawley.
No 31 has now reached the end of her boiler certificate and will be out of action for 18 months while an overhaul is carried out. Another steam locomotive with similar power and braking characteristics is currently being sought to replace No 31 for the 2024 season
Technical Data
Weight 26 Tons
Inside cylinders: 15" diameter, 20" stroke.
Wheels: 3' 7".
Tractive Effort (85%): 14,232 lbs.
Ex-BR 0-6-0 Class 03 Diesel D2120
A total of 230 Class 03 diesel shunter locomotives of were constructed by BR at Swindon and Doncaster, and brought into service between 1957 and 1962.
Our example, D2120, was built at Swindon and entered service in October 1959. It was first allocated to Danygraig Depot and spent its entire career in the Swansea area of South Wales.
In March 1972 whilst on overhaul, D2120 was converted to Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley (BPGV) Railway loading gauge, one of 11 Class 03’s so converted over the years. The BPGV line had a severe height restriction and this conversion involved reducing the cab height by 4½ inches.
During the mid 1970’s BR adopted its TOPS computer numbering system and D2120 was renumbered 03120 in March 1974. As the 03 Class was being reduced in number, 03120 was retained as a standby, allocated to Landore Depot. It was finally withdrawn by BR in February 1986 and released for sale.
Purchased by Sir William McAlpine, 03120 arriving at Fawley in December 1986, wearing the standard fleet livery of BR rail blue with ‘wasp’ yellow and black painted warning ends. Since its arrival it has been repainted into early BR Green as D2120; the wasp stripes at each end of the locomotive were restored in 2019. D2120 wears loco shed plate 87C (Danycraig).
Technical Data
British Railways Class 03
Transmission Diesel Mechanical
Weight 31.3 tons
Tractive Effort 15,3001bs
Max. Speed 28½ mph
F C Hibberd & Co. Planet 4w DM No 3 'ERNIE'
This Planet 4-wheel diesel mechanical shunting locomotive was built by F C Hibberd & Co in 1959 and delivered the same month to Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, being numbered No 3.
In November 1962, the locomotive was sold to Thomas Hill & Co. Kilnhurst where it remained for 7 years before being sold to the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton in February 1969. In 1988, 3894 was rebuilt by Andrew Barclay at their Caledonia Works, Kilmarnock and returned to Bishopton as a spare locomotive. In 1995, the Royal Ordnance Factory depot was closed and the locomotive was sold for scrap.
3894 was purchased by The South Yorkshire Railway Preservation Society and was found to be in remarkably good condition so was offered for sale. The locomotive was purchased by the Fawley Museum Society in September 1997 and arrived at Fawley three months later. In spring 2003, No 3894 received the name ERNIE in memory of Ernie Dove, an FMS volunteer for many years.
F C Hibberd & Co. Planet 4w DM
This small 4-wheel diesel mechanical shunting locomotive was built by F C Hibberd & Co at their works in Park Royal The locomotive was built in 1956 and delivered new to the Tyne Tees Shipping Company at Middlesborough.
When working at Middlesbrough, 3817 carried the name, TYNE TEES WHARF No1.
The locomotive was sold to Thomas Hill in January 1970 and moved to Kilnhurst Works, Rotherham. Sold to Courtaulds in October 1973, 3817 then moved to their Great Coates Works, Grimsby where it is believed to have stayed for the next 15 years.
The locomotive was purchased for preservation in 1988 and moved to the South Yorkshire Railway Preservation Society at Meadowhall, Sheffield in September of that year. 3817 was purchased by Sir William McAlpine in March 2002 and moved to Peak Rail Ltd, Matlock before arriving at Fawley the following month.
It is currently undergoing restoration and repainting by Museum volunteers.
Visiting Locomotives
Hudswell Clarke & Co 0-6-0ST 'No 88'
We were delighted to be visited by Stephen Middleton's beautifully restored Hudswell Clark 0-6-0ST No 88 for our Members' Barbeque and for the presentation of the National Transport Trust awards by HRH the Princess Royal. Stephen was a recipient of one of the Sir William McAlpine Awards at this year's ceremony. Enjoy the sight and sound of No 88 running along the Valley Line.
No 88 poses with big sister No 31 outside the Museum at the end of a busy day
GWR No 1340 'Trojan'
