BRECHIN BECOMES A SUBSHED OF DALLMELLINGTON!

Barclay 0-6-0T "Harlaxton", normally based at the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre at Dallmellington in Ayrshire, is to continue its stay hauling trains on the Caledonian Railway. The powerful engine will remain at Brechin until the close of the 2002 season, after which the loan period will be reviewed by its owners, the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Society.

As part of the deal, the engine will be repainted into its original green livery. It currently wears a ficticious livery based on that of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, a relic of 'Harlaxton's' days on the North Norfolk Railway. Another element to the relationship between the Caledonian Railway and our friends in Ayrshire may see the Caledonian Railway's 0-4-0 Barclay may go on loan to the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre for a short period, as this loco is more suited to their needs until a longer running line is established.

In a separate deal, the Caledonian is to play host to two class 11 diesel shunters from the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre. Both locos need major repairs before they can run again, and the Caledonian Railway Diesel Group will fix both on the basis that one is returned to Ayrshire in running order while the other will remain at Brechin. The two locomotives concerned are numbered 12052 and 12093.

120 of this LMS designed type of loco were built between 1945 & 1953 are basically an early example of the mechanically similar Class 08 shunter, many of which are still in use today. 20 of these locomotives were built for the war department with 6 of them passing onto the LMS and a further 10 later passing on to the NS (Netherlands Railways) in 1946, of which one, namely WD-70269 (NS 508), survives in preservation in the Netherlands at the National Railway Museum, Utrecht. No. 12052 is believed to be the oldest class 11 shunter preserved in the UK.

 
Above: (left to right), The Ayrshire six-coupled fleet! Class 11 no. 12052, Class 11 no. 12093 and Barclay 0-6-0T 'Harlaxton'.
Class 11 photos copyright Ross Aitken. Click here for Ross's website.