Locomotive No. 1539 'Derek Crouch' 0-6-0ST
Country of origin: United Kingdom.
Builder: Hudswell Clarke & Company Ltd., Leeds. Year: 1924. Number of cylinders: 2 (13" x 20").(330 x 508mm) Boiler pressure: 160 psi. (11.25Kg/cm2) Driving wheels diameter: 3'3.5". (1003 mm) Weight: 24 tons 15cwt. (24.76 tonnes) Original owner: Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons. Current owner: Nene Valley Railway |
Background
Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The company was founded as Hudswell and Clarke in 1860. In 1870 the name was changed to Hudswell, Clarke and Rogers. There was another change in 1881 to Hudswell, Clarke and Company. The firm became a limited company in 1899. This saddle tank locomotive was Hudswell Clarke’s no. 1539, built in 1924 to the ‘Countess of Warwick’ design. It was ordered by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons and sent new on 23rd July 1924 to Bushey and Oxley station to work on the Watford Bypass. It was dark blue lined with white and carried plates lettered SIR ROBERT McALPINE & SONS No. 46. This company was founded in 1869 by Sir Robert McAlpine, who was known as "Concrete Bob". Projects undertaken by the company have included the Glenfinnan Viaduct completed in 1901 & the original Wembley Stadium completed in 1924, until Ryan International PLC acquired Derek Crouch PLC during 1987.
Locomotive History
Locomotive No. 1539, built on 23rd July 1924, was used from new by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd as their No.46. After the Watford bypass construction job, it worked on McAlpine contracts at Tilbury Docks, Southampton Docks, the Cheddar reservoir, Cardiff [East Moors] Steelworks and Ebbw Vale Steelworks.. Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd later sold the locomotive to John Mowlem & Co Ltd in January 1940 where No. 46 gained the name HAYLE. It was used in the construction of Swynnerton Royal Ordnance Factory, near Stone in Staffordshire.. The locomotive was then acquired by the Ministry of Agriculture to work the Wissington Light Railway in March 1943 it was painted green lined out with black edged with yellow. HAYLE was painted on the tanks in yellow shaded with red. It was known as ‘Haile Selassie’ after the then popular Emperor of Ethiopia. This was a remarkable network of lines that connected the factory with the LNER Stoke Ferry Branch, as well as with the many farms in the neighboring Fen region by means of tracks laid along the edges of the fields. Hayle was evidently in poor condition, being sent to the LNER workshops at Stratford (East London) for tyre turning in 1943 and a full overhaul being carried out at the LNER workshops at Doncaster in 1947. Emerging in unlined black with both HAYLE and WISSINGTON LOCO painted on the tank sides. For a while it was used as a works shunter with WISSINGTON LOCO on the side probably to remind them it had to be returned! With the expiry of the lease on 30th June 1957 the British Sugar Corporation subsequently closed the Wissington Light Railway. No. 1539 was sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, together with the track and fitments
In July 1957 the locomotive was sold to Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd, (who had their bases at Newcastle, Peterborough and Melbourne, Australia) for use at their open cast coal working at Widdrington Disposal Point, near Morpeth, on behalf of the National Coal Board Opencast Executive. Northumberland.
Now named Derek Crouch the locomotive remained in Northumberland until 1970, when it was placed in store at Eye near Peterborough.
Preservation
In 1972 the locomotive was transferred on permanent loan to Peterborough Railway Society, who restored it to Derek Crouch house colours (maroon and cream) and returned it to steam in August 1973. In April 1974 Derek Crouch worked the first train along the Nene Valley Railway under the auspices of Peterborough Railway Society subsequently appeared regularly at Society Steam Days. On expiry of its boiler certificate and also in need of further attention, No. 1539 was Plinthed on display at the main Wansford entrance. Around 1987 due to the new Owners request No.1539 was repainted green & renamed "RYAN" but after a few years the company released its asset to the NVR and the Derek Crouch name was restored. It stayed there until August 1994 when it was moved to make way for the construction of the new station building.
Since then it has spent its time sitting in various locations around Wansford yard, until early 2011, The forming of the ‘NVR Small Loco Group’ gives the opportunity to raise money to help fund any further work, and potentially carry out a full mechanical overhaul of Derek Crouch to return it to steam. The group arranged for No.1539 to be moved inside the centre shed for the locos cosmetic overhaul and repaint , it has been positioned as a cab accessible locomotive outside the station building.
Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The company was founded as Hudswell and Clarke in 1860. In 1870 the name was changed to Hudswell, Clarke and Rogers. There was another change in 1881 to Hudswell, Clarke and Company. The firm became a limited company in 1899. This saddle tank locomotive was Hudswell Clarke’s no. 1539, built in 1924 to the ‘Countess of Warwick’ design. It was ordered by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons and sent new on 23rd July 1924 to Bushey and Oxley station to work on the Watford Bypass. It was dark blue lined with white and carried plates lettered SIR ROBERT McALPINE & SONS No. 46. This company was founded in 1869 by Sir Robert McAlpine, who was known as "Concrete Bob". Projects undertaken by the company have included the Glenfinnan Viaduct completed in 1901 & the original Wembley Stadium completed in 1924, until Ryan International PLC acquired Derek Crouch PLC during 1987.
Locomotive History
Locomotive No. 1539, built on 23rd July 1924, was used from new by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd as their No.46. After the Watford bypass construction job, it worked on McAlpine contracts at Tilbury Docks, Southampton Docks, the Cheddar reservoir, Cardiff [East Moors] Steelworks and Ebbw Vale Steelworks.. Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd later sold the locomotive to John Mowlem & Co Ltd in January 1940 where No. 46 gained the name HAYLE. It was used in the construction of Swynnerton Royal Ordnance Factory, near Stone in Staffordshire.. The locomotive was then acquired by the Ministry of Agriculture to work the Wissington Light Railway in March 1943 it was painted green lined out with black edged with yellow. HAYLE was painted on the tanks in yellow shaded with red. It was known as ‘Haile Selassie’ after the then popular Emperor of Ethiopia. This was a remarkable network of lines that connected the factory with the LNER Stoke Ferry Branch, as well as with the many farms in the neighboring Fen region by means of tracks laid along the edges of the fields. Hayle was evidently in poor condition, being sent to the LNER workshops at Stratford (East London) for tyre turning in 1943 and a full overhaul being carried out at the LNER workshops at Doncaster in 1947. Emerging in unlined black with both HAYLE and WISSINGTON LOCO painted on the tank sides. For a while it was used as a works shunter with WISSINGTON LOCO on the side probably to remind them it had to be returned! With the expiry of the lease on 30th June 1957 the British Sugar Corporation subsequently closed the Wissington Light Railway. No. 1539 was sold to Thos. W. Ward Ltd, together with the track and fitments
In July 1957 the locomotive was sold to Derek Crouch (Contractors) Ltd, (who had their bases at Newcastle, Peterborough and Melbourne, Australia) for use at their open cast coal working at Widdrington Disposal Point, near Morpeth, on behalf of the National Coal Board Opencast Executive. Northumberland.
Now named Derek Crouch the locomotive remained in Northumberland until 1970, when it was placed in store at Eye near Peterborough.
Preservation
In 1972 the locomotive was transferred on permanent loan to Peterborough Railway Society, who restored it to Derek Crouch house colours (maroon and cream) and returned it to steam in August 1973. In April 1974 Derek Crouch worked the first train along the Nene Valley Railway under the auspices of Peterborough Railway Society subsequently appeared regularly at Society Steam Days. On expiry of its boiler certificate and also in need of further attention, No. 1539 was Plinthed on display at the main Wansford entrance. Around 1987 due to the new Owners request No.1539 was repainted green & renamed "RYAN" but after a few years the company released its asset to the NVR and the Derek Crouch name was restored. It stayed there until August 1994 when it was moved to make way for the construction of the new station building.
Since then it has spent its time sitting in various locations around Wansford yard, until early 2011, The forming of the ‘NVR Small Loco Group’ gives the opportunity to raise money to help fund any further work, and potentially carry out a full mechanical overhaul of Derek Crouch to return it to steam. The group arranged for No.1539 to be moved inside the centre shed for the locos cosmetic overhaul and repaint , it has been positioned as a cab accessible locomotive outside the station building.