327974

At exactly 13:00 on the 4th September 2007 Ruston 0-4-0 shunt locomotive build number 327974 was rolled off a lorry and on to the newly laid railway track at Trevarno becoming the first locomotive on the Helston branch since 1964!

This locomotive is in full working order and was the first locomotive to run on the Helston Branch since its closure.

Built by Ruston & Hornsby in Lincoln. Build number 327974, 28 ton loco fitted with Ruston 6VPH engine number 384147. Delivered new to the Bardney Sugar Beet Factory. The locomotive cost Ł8,213-13-01d

A brief history of the locomotive is as follows:

15th October 1954 Ex-works to British Sugar Corporation, Bardney, Lincolnshire.

c August 1982 To British Sugar Corporation, Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

7th February 1997 To Great Eastern Traction, Hardingham Station, Norfolk.

28th June 1997 To Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust (NIRT), Hunsbury Hill, Northampton.

Sept 4th 2007 Delivered to the Helston Railway Preservation Society at Trevarno.

December 27th 2007 Started up for the first time since arrival on the Helston Railway.

May 18th 2008 Moves under its own power for the first time at Trevarno.

Image of 327974 at Bardney in 1978 - Many thanks to Dave Miles for the photograph.

Some relevant links:

History of Bardney Sugar Factory - Website on the history of Bardney sugar factory where 327974 spent its working life.