Non-Steam Locomotives: Exhibit No. 9
‘THE ROCK’ Diesel locomotive
Type: 4WDM 4-wheel drive diesel–mechanical mines locomotive
Track gauge: 1 metre
Motive power: 50 h.p. Gardner, 4L2 4-cylinder diesel engine
Built by: The Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd, Leeds, 1941. Works No. 2419
Working life: Delivered new to the Admiralty in 1941 and worked in the RN dockyard, Gibraltar (H.M.S. Rooke), where its normal duties were moving trains of ammunition, mines etc. from underground storage to the dockside. We are informed that one of its more unusual tasks was to drag a very long wire rope under the hull of warships to check for limpet mines. (Presumably the driver kept his hands over his ears!)
In 1950 the locomotive was transferred to the RN Dockyard, Singapore, but it is not known how long it stayed there, nor when it returned to the UK.
History to date: In 1981 it was found at the premises of A. Keef at Bampton, Oxfordshire, by members of the Northamptonshire Locomotive Group. Purchase was arranged and the locomotive came to Irchester on 20 February 1982.
At the present time, ‘THE ROCK’ is out of service and awaiting repairs.
Present owner: R.L. Kingston. On loan to the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust.