Early 2008 saw the arrival at Isfield of one of the smallest classes of standard gauge steam locomotives ever constructed. The tiny 0-4-0 ST engine is Peckett No 2012 built in March 1941 and was supplied to the Royal Ordnance Factory Poole, Dorset and was in use within the factory during the war period.

We are currently researching the life of the locomotive until its appearance in preservation in the 1970s. As and when we have more information it will be posted on this page.

This particular engine was acquired by the late Rev.Edward (Teddy) Boston who in 1963 at his vicarage in Leicestershire founded the 2 foot gauge Cadeby Light Railway which he ran for 23 years until his death. The vicarage was also home to many static exhibits and two highly detailed 00 gauge model GWR layouts. Teddy Boston was also the inspiration for the Fat Controller character for his friend the Rev Wilbert Awdry who famously created the Thomas the Tank Engine characters. It is known the Rev Awdry very much liked Teddy’s little Peckett and it is believed that the locomotive may well have been the inspiration for Percy, one of the little green engines found in his books.

It is also known that Teddy once kept the locomotive in steamable condition at Shakerstone on the Market Bosworth Light railway for a while in the 1970s; and you can click here to see some rare footage of the engine in action with the Rev.Teddy Boston at the controls. The locomotive was then named Herbert and research indicates it was still at the line as late as 1980. At some time later the engine was transported to Cadeby where it remained as a non working exhibit in the vicarage garden. In 2006 the engine and its little sister, the 2 foot gauge Pixie, where both sold for further preservation and now their new owners have now brought 2012 to Isfield.

Since its rebuild, the engine has been fitted with vacuum brakes and following a visit from the railways inspector was passed for service on passenger trains so hopefully will now see regular service on the line.

Currently the locomotive is referred to as “Teddy” in remembrance of its former owner. We believe the engine with its clean lines, unusual wheels and famous connections will be a popular attraction for our older and younger visitors alike.

This later additional information regarding the early years of the engine have been kindly supplied by Simon Lomax who was one of the engineering staff at the Cadeby Light Railway

The locomotive was supplied new to Ministry of Supply ROF (Royal Ordnance Factory) Creekmoor, Poole, Dorset, then moved in 1944 to ROF Llanishen, Cardiff. It was then sold in April 1967 to J.W. Hardwick & Sons (a dealer) in West Ewell, Surrey then to W.Lees for preservation in Godalming. Then sold to Rev E.R.Boston and moved on loan to Market the Bosworth Light Railway until 31/7/82 when it was transferred to Cadeby.

The locomotive is a Yorktown class, and its correct identity is V47 - this was on a small cabside plate. It appears the cab has now been correctly restored but this used to be a bit of a bodge job. When Mr Lees bought the loco from Hardwick, they were in the process of scrapping it when he arrived - they had already torched the cab and the buffers off. When I looked after the loco, it had four non-Peckett buffers off a Presflo wagon!

The Herbert name was a horrible plate which had been stolen off a lathe somewhere. The first job on arrival at Cadeby ex-Shackerstone was to remove the plate and hide it - we had a fair idea who had stolen it and where from!!

There were vague aspirations to steam it at Cadeby, but the general shortage of staff meant that this was never a realistic possiblity.

 

If you have any photos or have any further information about this engine which will add to our understanding of its history, please contact us at our email address - we would love to hear from you.