Grant, Richie at Horsehay
Scotsmen, not flying
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2018
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
16 September 2018
Three years ago, in April 2015, I visited the
Telford Steam Railway to see their first train to
Lawley Village - a northern extension of this
short Shropshire railway. “Must take a ride one
day soon”. Earlier this year, a friend mentioned
that the little Grant, Richie 0-4-0ST from
the Ribble Steam Railway would be on
the line this year, substituting for
indisposed “Rocket”. I’d really better get
down there. Today, I realised, would be the penultimate
normal steam day of their 2018 season. “We’re going to
Horsehay today” …
Grant, Richie were not the biggest builders of steam
locomotives in Scotland, though two have survived. No
272 was built in their Kilmarnock works
(which is why it closely resembles a
Barclay) in 1894, and when its working
life ended, it found itself in Muir’s
scrapyard in Fife. It was eventually
rescued and, after a period of storage
and subsequent restoration, it returned to
steam a couple of years ago.
The gradients on the Telford line are steep - 1
in 40 either side of the summit, a little way
south of the tunnel, so no 272 had to
work, despite its light load - one coach
and a brake van. Trains here are
alternately propelled and hauled along
the line - there are no run-round facilities, so
throughout our short visit, the locomotive was coupled
face-first to the train.
There’s another Scotsman here - 1954-built diesel
“Tom”, North British 27414. He used to work at the GKN
Sankey works in Telford, and has spent
his retirement here. Today he’s
resplendent in (fictitious) BR livery,
looking neat at the station platform,
just watching the steam action.
Link: Telford Steam Railway
