A STANDARD TANK FOR THE WATERCRESS LINE!
The Mid-Hants Railway’s (MHR) Alresford headquarters is home to a rateable buffet and a well-stocked gift shop. When you arrive at the attractive period station, a black tank locomotive across the tracks may catch your eye. It’s not ‘just’ any engine, however – it’s a lucky survivor, which has acquired quite a following of supporters, and might be described as a ‘feel good’ project, which will be invaluable for the railway in the fullness of time. What’s more, it actually worked on the MHR in the days of steam – so it’s historically appropriate too.
While BR 4MT No. 80150 remains one of two unrestored examples of the 15 surviving Standard Four 2-6-4Ts (see panel on page 61), moves are afoot to return fire to its belly by a team of friendly MHR volunteers.
The Friends of 80150 group was set up in late 2016 with the aim of conserving and restoring the locomotive, which began in early 2017. Since then, members have been transforming it from a rusting hulk, painting, acquiring and manufacturing a host of components ready for when it can take its turn inside Ropley Works. Rather than a generic appeal for ‘x’ thousands of pounds, the group’s approach has been one of bite-sized chunks with targets for particular components.
I first met members of the 80150 group at the MHR’s autumn 2018 gala weekend. Their sales stand in Ropley Works viewing gallery was buzzing – a team of chatty faces was selling donated goods and merchandise ranging from mugs to T-shirts and hats, branded ‘A Standard 4 the Future’. Their enthusiasm was infectious and the public appeared to be responding accordingly – so perhaps it’s little wonder that the locomotive is attracting a healthy amount of interest.
