THE acquisition of ex-Matheran Light Railway 0-6-0T No. 740 (OK2343/1907) was announced by (Miss) Madison Dolby, under the title of Darnall Locomotive and Railway Heritage, on July 19. The South Tynedale Railway (STR), for which the loco (in dismantled form) was purchased by a consortium of members some eight years ago, confirmed its intention to find a new owner earlier this year (RM, March).
The new owner intends to move the loco from STR’s Alston works to the Statfold Barn Railway, where it will become resident and make it available to visit other 2ft gauge railways when restored. MLR No. 740 arrived in Britain in November 1986, having been gifted to the UK by Indian Railways. It came into the ownership of Peterborough-based Railworld in 1991 and subsequently placed on loan to the Leighton Buzzard Railway (LBR) which returned it to operation.
It last ran on July 5, 2008 and with the loan agreement
