A GWR‘64XX’0-6-0PT is due to take up residence once again on the West Somerset Railway (WSR), after a member of the class was acquired by one of the line’s leading lights.
Auto-fitted 1937-built No. 6435, and 1951-built WR auto-trailer No. 232 have been bought from the Bodmin Railway by WSR plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt’s JJP Holdings company for use on the WSR.
The loco and carriage were among several items of rolling stock offered for sale by the Cornish line early in the New Year. On January 2, David Nelson-Brown, Bodmin Railway chairman said:“It is with a heavy heart that the Bodmin Railway is considering the sale of locomotive No. 6435. It is a loco much loved by crews and very capable on our steeply graded line, but financial pressures require us to release this capital. The loco last ran in 2022 when its boiler ticket expired. It had new tyres fitted in 2021. It is of course complete and has been dry stored since expiry of its ticket.
“It does require a full overhaul. It had a lot of work carried out in 2020 including a lot of Crown stays. We are looking for a speedy sale if possible.
“We are also considering the future of our matching auto coach, Class 121 bubble car, a Mk.1 BSK, a GWR Toplight coach and an SR PMV. We will not sell all of these vehicles but will consider sensible offers on any.”
Explaining the background, David said:“We have traded our way for as long as we can, turned around the business and made it viable going forward.
“We just need to clear the accumulated debt now to carry on being viable. We also need to be realistic about what assets a railway with our resources and our size can look after and house.”
Next steps
No. 6435 is due to move to Minehead by mid-March.“We are going to examine it and work out a programme of work to overhaul it. There seems to be momentum behind 6435 to get it in traffic,”Jonathan told The RM.
“WSR people are very pleased to have a‘64XX’back on the line. No. 6435 will be overhauled at the WSR. While the exact location remains to be confirmed, it is expected to be dismantled at Minehead. A rapid turnaround is expected – the loco is a key part of WSR’s 10-year plan.”
The WSR plc sold sister loco No. 6412 to the South Devon Railway in 2009. While that sale was to an extent controversial, it was felt the loco was too small for regular WSR use and needed to be replaced with a larger engine. The WSR now has a full roster of larger locos for regular main use, but the arrival of
