Steam Locomotives: Exhibit No. 1
No. 85 0-6-0 Saddle Tank
Cylinders: 2 (10" diameter × 18" stroke)
Track gauge: 1 metre
Built by: Peckett & Sons of Bristol in 1934. Works No. 1870
Working life: One of a pair of similar locomotives (delivered new to Wellingborough Iron Company Ltd in 1934 in the livery in which she is seen today) to work in the Finedon quarries, north-east of Sidegate Lane. She became No. 85 when the operations were taken over by Stewarts & Lloyds Minerals Ltd in 1962. Her whole working life was spent in this quarry system until it closed in 1966. This was the last of the narrow-gauge ironstone quarries to close.
History to date: Following closure, No. 85 was sold in 1966 to Mr Alan Bloom at the Bressingham Hall Steam Museum, Norfolk, who then sold it, in 1971, to the Yorkshire Dales Railway, Embsay. It was purchased by the Northamptonshire Locomotive Group and moved to Northampton in 1977.
After storage, No. 85 was moved to the former BR goods shed at Irchester station in January 1982, where she was completely restored and returned to steam in 1984. She was moved, with other exhibits, to this museum in May 1988 and is regarded as the ‘Flagship’ exhibit here.