Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon, will welcome a guest locomotive this month with the arrival of “Conway,” an industrial locomotive that will enter the museum’s Conservation Workshop as part of new restoration project in partnership with the Middleton Railway.
Conway was built by Kitson and Company of Leeds. The design dates to around 1917, when Manning, Wardle and Co built six examples for Stewarts and Lloyds at Corby quarry, and iron ore quarry in the East Midlands. Originally given a works number of 5469 and then later numbered No. 44, Conway worked at Corby right up to the end of steam and was then selected for private preservation.
It was purchased by the Middleton Railway from Northamptonshire Iron Trust as an example of a Kitson built locomotive for the railway.
The locomotive has been in store since it was purchased with a long-term ambition to see it restored and displayed in the Engine House at Middleton Railway.
The partnership between Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon and the Middleton Railway will see the long-term ambitions for the locomotive fulfilled.
The project gives Locomotion’s heritage skills trainees and trainees from Groundworks NE and Cumbria (supported by museum volunteers) the opportunity to work on a detailed restoration project and further develop their skills and experience and employability. The project will help the trainees and possibly future generations retain the traditional skills essential for railway preservation.
The project will also give museum visitors the chance to see heritage conservation in action from the viewing platform overlooking Locomotion’s Conservation Workshop. Those with a keen interest can follow its progress on the museum’s Facebook page.
Middleton Railway is currently undertaking research into the original appearance of the locomotive under the Stuarts and Lloyd livery.
The work will include new steelwork, repairs to the tank and buffer beams as well as a total repaint. Replacement nameplates, work plates and S&L plates will be cast and new windows will be fitted in the locomotive cab.
The project is due to start this month.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
