WWI locomotive and Belgian engine to star in North East steam events
Veteran locomotives travel to the North East to boost gala events by two heritage railways. Tony Henderson reports
A locomotive which served on the Western Front in the First World War has been recruited to star in a heritage railway’s gala event.
Hunslet 1215, built on the orders of the War Department Light Railways, will feature in the South Tynedale Railway’s gala weekends on July 5-6 and 12-13.
After the First World War ended, Hunslet was sold to Australia where it saw service in the sugar cane industry in Queensland. It will be on loan from the Apedale Light Railway in Staffordshire.
Ian Millward, chairman of South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society, said: “Hunslet 1215 is a rare and historic loco which saw service over 100 years ago in the First World War, where it supported troops on the front line.
“We are delighted to be welcoming this incredible loco to our railway and would like to thank our friends at Apedale Valley Light Railway for allowing 1215 to journey to the North Pennines from its home in Staffordshire”.
Tickets for the steam galas are available to book on the STR website.
Meanwhile another locomotive, named Lucie, which was built and worked in Belgium from 1890 will be the guest attraction at Gateshead’s Tanfield Railway this weekend (May 17-18) as part of the heritage line’s Great North Festival of Railways.
The festival marks the 300th anniversary of the founding of the line to transport coal to the Tyne for shipment.
Lucie was built by the John Cockerill Company of Seraing, Belgium. In 1817, an iron foundry was established in Seraing by John Cockerill and his brother Charles.
The company produced industrial machinery and built the first Belgian steam locomotive, Le Belge in 1835 beginning a tradition of building locomotives for the railways of Belgium.
This locomotive was built under licence from Newcastle’s Robert Stephenson locomotive works, and will join another engine from the Tyneside factory, Twizell, which is part of Tanfield’s home fleet.
Originally built to operate on the East Brussels Tramway, Lucie went on to work at a Belgian coal mine at Angleur, where she likely earned her name from one of her drivers.
Lucie is now based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Tanfield Railway general manager, David Watchman, said “Le Belge was one of the earliest locomotives to run in continental Europe, and remained in service until 1869.
“Lucie’s presence alongside Twizell, Tanfield’s 1891-built Robert Stephenson locomotive, powerfully commemorates the spread of North East railway innovation across the globe.
“Lucie’s story, and her link to the pioneering work of Tyneside engineers like Robert Stephenson and how North East railway engineering and technology spread across the globe, perfectly captures the spirit of our Tanfield 300 celebrations. We’re thrilled to welcome her to Tanfield as part of our Great North Festival of Railways.”
Tanfield Railway operates a three-mile heritage railway across the Gateshead-County Durham border. Its 300th celebrations will continue throughout 2025, with events including a Legends of Industry Gala in June, showcasing the best of Britain’s industrial railway heritage.
Tickets and timetables for the Great North Festival of Railways are available here.