‘Menelaus’ (Pronounced ‘Many-lay-us’) is a six-coupled Peckett 0-6-0 saddle tank, works number 1889 and built in 1935. It was purchased by a group of BRPS members in 1999, with the intention of returning it to steam on the Caledonian Railway. Although it is currently second-placed in the overhaul queue, behind sister Peckett 0-6-0ST no. 2153, all the missing parts have now been acquired and returning it to steam should not be a major task.

Menelaus came to Tredegar Iron and Coal Ltd about 1939, from Insoles Ltd at Cymmer Collieries in Porth, Mid Glamorgan. The engine was called ‘Rosa’ at Cymmer and this is likely to have been its first owner. The loco was ‘nationalised’ on the 1^st January 1947 along with the rest of the coal industry.

From here it gets a bit complicated as the engine moved around quite a bit before ending its days at Marine Colliery. After nationalisation it became part of the Tredegar Railways fleet, and entered their workshops on 16^th November 1951. By June 1952 it was at Nine Mile Point Colliery, Cwm Felinfach, and then moved back to Tredegar on 15^th August. Sometime between September 1957 and September 1958 it moved to Hafodyrynys Colliery in Crumlin, then returned to the workshops between March and June 1959. Following this it had another spell at Hafodyrynys until July 1960.

The next move was to Celynen South Colliery, Abercarn, between October 1960 and May 1961 after which it returned to Tredegar Railways. On 29^th September 1962 it returned to Celynen for the last time. The final move to Marine Colliery took place in July 1968, and it remained here for the next 15 years, becoming the final steam locomotive to work for the NCB. It last steamed in May 1985 and then went to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway on the 23^rd June that year. It later moved to the Vale of Glamorgan Steam Railway at Barry, from where it was purchased for use on the Caledonian Railway. Considering its last overhaul was in 1960, it seems to be in quite good condition mechanically.

Research by Adam Hendry.