pete briddon
IMG_6429
RS8, nearing completion of its rebuild, powers up the slope away from the former workshops, now stores, where the work has been carried out.
The locomotive was built as an 0-4-0ST by Avonside in 1923, and after a few years in North Wales, came to the quarry at Tunstead when development started in 1927. In 1959-60 it was completely rebuilt at Tunstead witha Rolls-Royce C6NFL engine and Twin Disc converter. The loco was even extended 13 inches and arranged to suit one-man operation. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT outside load gauge else it would not have cleared the loading hoppers.
By 1974 it was too small for quarry tonnages and passed to the group at Dinting, where it was affectionately called 'The Clockwork Lemon', but when Dinting closed, it ended up in a car park and progressively vandalised until rescued in 2015. Its restoration has been sponsored by Tarmac, owners of the quarry today, in the very workshops where it was converted.
IMG_6429
RS8, nearing completion of its rebuild, powers up the slope away from the former workshops, now stores, where the work has been carried out.
The locomotive was built as an 0-4-0ST by Avonside in 1923, and after a few years in North Wales, came to the quarry at Tunstead when development started in 1927. In 1959-60 it was completely rebuilt at Tunstead witha Rolls-Royce C6NFL engine and Twin Disc converter. The loco was even extended 13 inches and arranged to suit one-man operation. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT outside load gauge else it would not have cleared the loading hoppers.
By 1974 it was too small for quarry tonnages and passed to the group at Dinting, where it was affectionately called 'The Clockwork Lemon', but when Dinting closed, it ended up in a car park and progressively vandalised until rescued in 2015. Its restoration has been sponsored by Tarmac, owners of the quarry today, in the very workshops where it was converted.