Steam Locomotives: Exhibit No. 3
No. 87 0-6-0 Saddle Tank
Cylinders: 2 (12" diameter × 20" stroke)
Track gauge: 1 metre
Built by: Peckett & Sons of Bristol in 1942. Works No.2029
Working life: This locomotive was delivered to the Wellingborough Iron Co. Ltd in 1942 as a result of the increased output of iron ore required during the Second World War. She is basically a larger version of the other two and also worked in the same Finedon quarries as Nos. 85 and 86 until closure of the operations. As with the other two locomotives, she was given the number 87 in 1962 by Stewarts & Lloyds Minerals Ltd.
History to date: In July 1967, No. 87 was sold to F.G. Gann & Son of Finedon and was acquired in 1973 for the Northamptonshire Ironstone Trust and moved to Hunsbury Hill in 1975.
After long storage, agreement was reached in 1992 to place the locomotive on long-term loan to the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust, and the locomotive arrived at the museum on 20 March 1993.
The initial intention is to restore the locomotive to ‘static museum condition’ and we are now in the happy position of having on site the complete fleet of three locomotives which operated at the Finedon quarries from 1934 to 1966!
With ‘a little help from our friends’, we are looking forward to the day when all three engines are back in their original condition and giving pleasure to our visitors as a unique collection of metre-gauge British industrial locomotives.