Train from Spain’s first steaming

The ‘Train from Spain’, the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s latest addition to its locomotive fleet, made moves under its own steam for the first time in 84 years on November 22.




The partially restored ‘Train from Spain’ makes its first moves for the first time in 84 at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on November 22. KEITH HERBERT



The 15in gauge 4-6-2, built by Krauss (W/No. 8457) in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville, Spain, was acquired by the RER in January 2016, after members voted overwhelmingly to save the locomotive. The locomotive , which ran under the name Pinta, only operated for fourteen months before it was laid up in 1932 and is effectively still new.

Train from Spain Appeal Press Officer, Keith Herbert, says: “The first steaming went well, providing chance to work on valve settings and weighing the loco, as well as showing it off in its part-restored state.

“The engine is unfinished but moved successfully under its own power. The most major job outstanding will probably be the construction of a brand new tender, which will be designed to use bogies conforming to the R&ER standard, and accommodate brake gear in the limited space underneath the tender body. It will also lower the seating position and make use of a footwell, currently missing on the present tender.

“We are looking for lots of support with this and would welcome pledges of funds to our cause.”

A new name and livery is for the Krauss-built locomotive is to be voted on by RER Preservation Society members this winter. If you wish to donate to the Train from Spain appeal, visit www.trainfromspain.org/donate.

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There is also a thread here with more general discussion about the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway:
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/the-train-from-spain-rerps.635670/page-3#post-1667508