12-251 Port of Par Bagnall 0-4-0ST 'Alfred' - Presumably E.C.C stands for English China Clay
Taken 07/09/12: The 2012 Swanage Gala featured a shuttle service between Norden and the boundary between the Swanage railway and the National Network at Motala. These were the first such workings at a Swanage Gala, although I believe at a recent Gala (2009?) some services were booked to run ‘beyond Norden’. The shuttle was worked using a d.m.u ‘top and tailed’ with the two small Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives loaned from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway for the Gala. The two locos are 'Judy' (No. 2572 of 1934) and ‘Alfred’ (No. 3058 of 1954). These locos used to work china clay trains at the Par Docks in Cornwall. Locos used at Par had to be squat in stature, half the height of a conventional steam locomotive, because they had to run under a low bridge carrying the Penzance to London main line
From the Bodmin and Wenford web-site:
“Alfred is of very similar design to “Judy” (named with Punch and Judy in mind), the only significant differences were in the tank, Judy had a riveted tank whereas Alfred’s is welded, also Judy’s bunkers are riveted and Alfred has rolled bunkers. Upon delivery, Alfred was due to be named Punch (i.e. …and Judy), however this was also the week that the long serving harbour master was retiring, his name was Alfred, so the engine was named in his honour.
Alfred and Judy are “cut down”; their work was to transport wagons of china clay around the Par docks, the dries that the clay was processed in was on the far side of the Paddington-Penzance mainline from the docks. The docks line went under the mainline with a low bridge, so these two engines were specially built to make this job possible. When coupled to clay wagons it is easy to see the significance of the size of the two engines, the roof and the top of the wagons being set at the same height.
In 1978 Alfred finished work at Par Docks, and went on permanent loan to the Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society (CSLPS), based at Bugle Steam Railway at that point, from there the CSLPS moved to Bodmin, where she still resides. Except for a repaint and a tank renewal Alfred has had very little time out of service. This engine is a very good training engine, many a young trainee fireman have learnt the ropes on this engine when shunting in the yard at Bodmin.
Quite possibly the most famous engines on the railway, Alfred and Judy were to be an inspiration to the Reverend W. Awdry, the author of the Thomas the Tank Engine books. Alfred can be seen masquerading as Bill or Ben during our Days out with Thomas events.
Alfred being so small is easier to transport than other engines and has been on various excursions. In April 1999, Alfred visited the North Cornwall port of Padstow for the towns first “Fish and Ships” Festival. Over the years Alfred has made trips to the West Somerset Railway for their “Days out with Thomas” event, Alfred made a trip of the 20-mile line, quite some way with such small wheels. In August 2002, Alfred went out again, this time to St Blazey and Par. For the first time in 24 years Alfred was to be seen moving around the Par Docks on its way to the EWS yard at St Blazey for the first “Family Open Day”. On this trip Alfred was accompanied by the three mainline diesels from Bodmin, many other “in service” and preserved mainline diesels and GWR “King Edward I” (a real little and large show
The CSLPS is won funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the loco to working order. A new firebox and a general refurbishment was needed. The locomotive was re launched alongside 'Alfred' in 2009.”
12-251 Port of Par Bagnall 0-4-0ST 'Alfred' - Presumably E.C.C stands for English China Clay
Taken 07/09/12: The 2012 Swanage Gala featured a shuttle service between Norden and the boundary between the Swanage railway and the National Network at Motala. These were the first such workings at a Swanage Gala, although I believe at a recent Gala (2009?) some services were booked to run ‘beyond Norden’. The shuttle was worked using a d.m.u ‘top and tailed’ with the two small Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotives loaned from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway for the Gala. The two locos are 'Judy' (No. 2572 of 1934) and ‘Alfred’ (No. 3058 of 1954). These locos used to work china clay trains at the Par Docks in Cornwall. Locos used at Par had to be squat in stature, half the height of a conventional steam locomotive, because they had to run under a low bridge carrying the Penzance to London main line
From the Bodmin and Wenford web-site:
“Alfred is of very similar design to “Judy” (named with Punch and Judy in mind), the only significant differences were in the tank, Judy had a riveted tank whereas Alfred’s is welded, also Judy’s bunkers are riveted and Alfred has rolled bunkers. Upon delivery, Alfred was due to be named Punch (i.e. …and Judy), however this was also the week that the long serving harbour master was retiring, his name was Alfred, so the engine was named in his honour.
Alfred and Judy are “cut down”; their work was to transport wagons of china clay around the Par docks, the dries that the clay was processed in was on the far side of the Paddington-Penzance mainline from the docks. The docks line went under the mainline with a low bridge, so these two engines were specially built to make this job possible. When coupled to clay wagons it is easy to see the significance of the size of the two engines, the roof and the top of the wagons being set at the same height.
In 1978 Alfred finished work at Par Docks, and went on permanent loan to the Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society (CSLPS), based at Bugle Steam Railway at that point, from there the CSLPS moved to Bodmin, where she still resides. Except for a repaint and a tank renewal Alfred has had very little time out of service. This engine is a very good training engine, many a young trainee fireman have learnt the ropes on this engine when shunting in the yard at Bodmin.
Quite possibly the most famous engines on the railway, Alfred and Judy were to be an inspiration to the Reverend W. Awdry, the author of the Thomas the Tank Engine books. Alfred can be seen masquerading as Bill or Ben during our Days out with Thomas events.
Alfred being so small is easier to transport than other engines and has been on various excursions. In April 1999, Alfred visited the North Cornwall port of Padstow for the towns first “Fish and Ships” Festival. Over the years Alfred has made trips to the West Somerset Railway for their “Days out with Thomas” event, Alfred made a trip of the 20-mile line, quite some way with such small wheels. In August 2002, Alfred went out again, this time to St Blazey and Par. For the first time in 24 years Alfred was to be seen moving around the Par Docks on its way to the EWS yard at St Blazey for the first “Family Open Day”. On this trip Alfred was accompanied by the three mainline diesels from Bodmin, many other “in service” and preserved mainline diesels and GWR “King Edward I” (a real little and large show
The CSLPS is won funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the loco to working order. A new firebox and a general refurbishment was needed. The locomotive was re launched alongside 'Alfred' in 2009.”