Steam Engines Under Overhaul:
Hawthorn Leslie 3837:
This 0-6-0ST has been rescued by the Hawthorn and Leslie Preservation society as a long term project to bring her back to steam after standing for 25 years at the Leatherhead Leisure centre. A working member at the Lavender Line enquired about the Loco last August as a static display exhibit at Isfield and the eventual overhaul of the loco, by September a small society had formed and the Hawthorn Leslie Preservation society was born.
Built 1934 in Tyneside she was purposely build as a workhorse for the Corby Steel works where she was renumber from 3837 to number 16. After working all her life at the Steel works she finally retired in 1969 where she was privately brought and taken to the Nene Valley railway, by 1985 the loco was kindly donated by the Biwater Group Limited of Dorking to the Leatherhead Leisure centre where the loco has stayed ever since.
3837 seems to be in overall average condition due to the amount of time she has been exposed to the elements, but with donations and fund raising the society is very confident that with a major overhaul she could well be in steam once again.
For more information on this Loco please visit the Society’s website: www.3837.pvsonline.com
