The Doll

Can anyone help with information about The Doll.

During the early 60's I used to drive my fathers Fowler roller we lived in Red Lane outside Kenilworth.
At the top of Red Lane to the left was Hob Lane an down Hob Lane past the school there was a short piece of narrow guage line on which ran a loco called The Doll.
We held a couple of get togethers up there for anyone who was interested.
Is this the same engine which is guesting at the WHHR later this year?

Cheers Dave

 

Yes, "The Doll" or "Doll" as she is know known has been at Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway since 1969. Her visit to the Wesh Highland Heritage Railway later this year, will be her second operational visit away from Leighton Buzzard.

It is belived that this locomotive was named "The Doll" when built, but it was shortened to "Doll" at Bilston Steel Works. When first preserved at Burton Green, Kenilworth, a pair of "The Doll" nameplates were fitted, but at Leighton Buzzard, we decided that "Doll" painted on the tanks, looked better.

For those interested, the Narrow Gauge Railway Society, published an article on the Burton Green Light Railway, last year.

Regards, William Shelford,
LBNGRS Archivist

 

Thanks for the reply William nice to know she has a good home.

Cheers Dave

 

Doll also spent some time at Bressingham IIRC but I don't think it ever steamed there.

 

On my one and only visit to Bressingham in February 1969 'The Doll' was there but not in steam.

 

A recent edition of "The Narrow Gauge" was given over to the Burton Green Light Railway, and one of those involved, Peter Lee, is a friend of the family. All interesting stuff. There were quite a few people playing with narrow gauge in gardens in Warwickshire in the 1960s...

 

"The Doll" was purchased by Alan Bloom for use at Bressingham in 1966, as it was belived to be a better condition than the locomotives recently purchased from Penrhyn Quarries. However "The Doll" felt that the railway which had been laid to accomodate locomotives of 1' 11 1/2" and 1' 10 3/4" gauges was a bit on the tight side. Being a long wheel base 2' 0" gauge engine, she pushed the rails out, only for the coaches fell into the gap between them! Cutting the flange off the center wheels, failed to fix the problem, and the "The Doll" was abandoned and put to one side.

 

Yes DOLL will be visiting the WHHR this year. See press release below.


The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and the Leighton Buzzard Railway are pleased to announce that an agreement has been signed which will see Andrew Barclay DOLL visit Wales for the first time. Previously DOLL has only left Leighton Buzzard once before in May 2006 when it visited the Froissy - Cappy - Dompierre line in France with whom the LBR is "twinned".

The month long visit will see DOLL operate on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog on selected dates in May and June. This will be only the second chance to see DOLL operate along side sister Andrew Barclay GERTRUDE since they both have been returned to working order.

DOLL’s visit will enable her to take part in our popular May Bank holiday Gala weekend (5th and 6th May 2012) operating alongside GELERT, GERTRUDE and also during our new event for this year, the Family Fun Weekend (2nd and 3rd June.) The Galas will celebrate all things elemental, Earth, Air, Fire & Water. “All the elements needed to make a steam engine, all the elements needed to run a steam engine, an element of each to discover and explore.”

Sunday 6th May and Saturday 2nd June will see Train services running on late into the evening, while the sheds will be filled with the sounds of live music, a BBQ and Beer. Evening tickets are available separately, or in conjunction with a day time or weekend ticket.

May bank holiday will also give a chance to examine the progress being made in the restoration of the F&WHR NG15 134, the freshly completed Tender will be on display throughout the duration of the weekend, along with a stand from the WHRS.

 

What are the delivery arragements at Gelert's Farm now?

Would Doll have to come via the Ffestiniog ?

Cheers

 

No she should be arriving Via Pen-y-mount, measurements and tests suggest that there should not be any problems encountered with the low loader upon which she will be travelling. DOLL will not be venturing onto FR/RhE, even if other items from the WHHR do over the course of her stay...

 

There are some people on hand to make sure it does go in the right way.

He's a good boy thats moving her.

 

Mike Hart's Simplex arrived at the Farm by rail from Harbour for an extended stay on Sunday.

 

Would The Doll have been heading along the A46 past Broadway towards Evesham last Friday? A narrow gauge engine on the back of a lorry passed in the murk.

 

It arrived at the Farm about 0830 on Saturday.

 

Was the tractor unit of the lorry white and the engine on the low loader blue ?

I suspect it was the load your asking about the route would have been that way.

Shaun was driving.

 

'the' DOLL performed faultlessly all weekend, she was in steam from 7.30am till 11pm and beyond Sat and Sun, other than a lot of clinker dug out of the fire late on sunday she was a pleasure to work with!

She will be operating again 2nd/3rd/4th June at the WHHR.

 

Glad to hear that she did well hopefully will be invited back next year with the baldwin to launch Russell
into service

 

Even with RUSSELL being sent to Keef's, he will not be finished till the tail end of 2013 (subject to funding!!!), so the big relaunch Gala will probably be May 2014, if someone fancies pencilling that in the Baldwin diary we would appreciate it!

some photos of the weekend

 

DOLL will be out and about this coming weekend, she will be operating from 10.30am saturday morning till late in the evening and the same on Sunday. Monday will see her operating a normal WHHR service day. These are the last three chances to see her operate in Wales before she returns back to LBR.

Added attractions for the FAMILY FUN WEEKEND

A selection of Military Vehicles will be on display with living interpretations to explore

A number of Fire engines will be on site for you to climb in and discover, you might even get to play with the lights and sirens...

Mr Balwns (Balloons) will be on hand on Saturday to make balloon models and entertain while waiting for your train.

Dan the music Man will be running music groups throughout the weekend, come along and sing, clap or just watch.

There will be several working steam engines of all sizes from the hand held through to the 10 tonne locomotives which haul the trains

Complete the treasure hunt for a chance to win a prize.