NORTHUMBERLAND’S Aln Valley Railway will take delivery of its second operational steam locomotive in mid-March when Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST No. 60 (3686/1948) arrives from the nearby works of Ian Storey in Hepscott, near Morpeth.
The former National Coal Board locomotive is owned by Stephen Wood and began its preservation career at the Strathspey Railway, where Mr Wood served as a director.
After seeing regular operation during the 1980s the loco was set aside for overhaul, but sat out of use for around 20 years before being transported to Hepscott for major repairs.
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Upon reaching the AVR’s Lionheart station in Alnwick the loco will be given a full repaint into black livery before running-in starts over the newly extended line.
Its first public running days are expected to be the railway’s ‘Branch End 50’ event over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 5-7, when it will share duties with Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0T Richboro, marking half a century since the closure of the Alnwick to Alnmouth branch.
Read more in the March issue of The RM – on sale now!
