Well Tank Weekend

Programme number: BLS001
Running time: 42 minutes approx.
Available on Steam Age Pictures Volume 1

30587 Pendewey
Beattie "well tank" no 30587 crosses Pendewey bridge, soon after
leaving Boscarne junction, 8th April 2003. On April 7th & 8th 2003, the National Railway Museum's Beattie well-tank locomotive, no 30587 was launched into public service on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway with a weekend of special trains. This programme covers all the activity: coaling and watering in the morning; passenger trains to Boscarne Junction and Bodmin Road (oops - Bodmin Parkway these days!) shared with pannier tank loco 4612; brake-van specials to the outskirts of Bodmin; shunting in the evening. It finishes with a ride on the evening "pasty special" to both Boscarne Junction and Bodmin Road, filmed from the veranda of a brake van and from the line-side, returning after dark.
To see a short video clip (hosted on YouTube.com) click here

Historical Note

85 of Beattie's 2-4-0WT well tanks were built by Beyer Peacock between 1863 and 1875. Most were scrapped at the end of the 19th century, but three were kept to work china clay trains between Wenford Bridge and Wadebridge. Their short wheelbase made them ideal for the line which had many tight curves. They were finally withdrawn in 1962, but two survived into preservation: no. 30587, featured in this programme, belongs to the National Railway Museum, and was restored at The Flour Mill locomotive workshops at Bream in the Forest of Dean during 2001 and 2002; 30585 is at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road, where restoration started in 1999, and was completed, with more help from The Flour Mill, in September 2006. More details of 30585 here.

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this page updated 24/10/2006