The Golden Valley Light railway

“Holwell Castle” late of the L & B, landed on GVLR metals on Tuesday, 8th April, after a journey north up the M5.

The loco's industrial career spanned 14 years with Reed & Mallik (Plant) Ltd. It then moved via Alan Keef Ltd to the Llanberis Lake Railway. Six years later, it moved to the Brecon Mountain Railway, where it stayed for almost twenty years.

It was purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Trust in the late 1990’s, firstly placed in store, and then moved to the Talyllyn for restoration work. It first entered service with the L & B in 2005.The loco, which was not in traffic or in full working order, was declared “surplus to requirement”.

It has been purchased privately for use on the GVLR. Repairs, overhaul and modification to GVLR air braking standards are required before it can enter revenue earning service.

Since its arrival, Lister/Blackstone 53726 has received no real attention and has spent most of its time stored outside. The loco has been worked hard, including hauling works trains on the building of the Newlands Inn extension.

With the completion of the Running shed in the summer of 2008, Lister/Blackstone 53726 was brought in out of the cold. Since then she has received oodles of TLC. Her canopy has been removed for attention and painting.

Drivers have for 15 years, had to contend with a clutch pedal that was unstable, this has been corrected. The throttle linkage, which had lots of play in it, has received attention. After a full service of the loco, the brake linkage has been removed for refurbishment.

After all the weights were removed, the loco was stripped of all it's old paint and is receiving a new paint covering. She will be outshopped in Lister Green. The project still has some way to go, but the loco already looks well cared for.

A Diesel Hydraulic loco built by Baguley Drewry at Burton-on-Trent in 1980 has arrived at the GVLR today. The ex RAF loco which was originally built to a gauge of 2ft 6ins, has been regauged to 2ft.

The loco weights 6 tons and is powered by a 4 cylinder Perkins diesel engine which produces 70HP. The loco which carries the works number 3753, is to be airbraked to operate passenger trains on the railway. The loco has already made a return trip to Newlands Inn hauling the passenger stock.

AD34 a 28hp Hunslet 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic loco, which arrived from MOD Lydd was purchased unserviceable and with vital parts missing. Loco owner Steve Dentith, spent the autumn sourcing replacement parts. Once these had been acquired, Steve, with the help of Mick Hardy and Eddie Draper, has spent the last two months rebuilding and rewiring the loco.

Their efforts paid off, when on 9th February the loco was started for the first time. After a number of checks, it was coupled to 3 vehicles, which were hauled to Newlands Inn and return. Further work is needed on the loco, but this is another welcome addition to the expanding serviceable loco fleet at the GVLR.