Film - Bagnall "No. 1" at work - Beeston Sleeper Depot

In 2008 Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway was very fortunate to purchase W.G. Bagnall “Mercedes” class locomotive “No. 1” as a long-term restoration project, she now resides at the Amerton Railway. Built in 1911 “No.1” worked at Judkins Quarry, Nuneaton, along with her sister engine “No.2” until around 1950, subsequently passing to British Railways to work on the 3ft gauge line at their Beeston sleeper depot in Nottingham, where she worked until 1962, latterly as “spare engine” to a Ruston 48DS.

Early in the 1960s Mr Jim Hawksworth visited various narrow gauge railways. It was doubly fortunate that Jim took his cine camera with him and that he visited Beeston at a time when “No.1” was in use. Jim has very kindly shared the film he took of “No.1” at work with SNGR and it can now be seen on the Amerton Railway website at:- http://amertonrailway.co.uk/bagnall-no-1-video/

The film records “No. 1” working in a truly industrial setting, including a brief clip of running on dual gauge track – 3ft and standard gauge ! We hope that that you will enjoy this wonderful short film and join us at SNGR in thanking Jim for making it available.

 

Excellent video. There's also an article and a couple of photos in June's Railway Bylines magazine taken at Beeston.