Ruston 354013 of 1953 is one of the make’s 20DL type – a very common design. However, this particular loco has a key part in the history of the Moseley Railway Trust; it was the very first loco to run at the Cheadle School railway back in 1971.
Built to 20 inch gauge, this loco was new to a brickworks at Crowle (near Scunthorpe). In 1970, the loco was bought and moved to Cheadle, where it was overhauled (using, amongst other facilities, the school metal work room), and put to work on 20 inch gauge track which had been laid to suit. As the school railway developed, the limitations of the unusual 20 inch gauge became apparent. A Darlington company, The Chemical and Insulating Co Ltd had one of the UK’s few 20 inch gauge railways, and needed a loco; a deal was done, and the loco moved to its new home in February 1977. Eventually, C and I ceased using their railway, and the loco re-entered preservation at the Darlington Railway Preservation Society. In August 2019, the loco arrived at Apedale on-loan from the DRPS, and was a key exhibit in the event of September that year which marked 50 years of the Trust. Cosmetically restored for the 2019 event, the loco has now been fully restored to operating condition. The intention is that a 20″ gauge railway will be constructed in due course for the loco to run on.
One of our longest serving members is visible in the old black and white photo and in glorious colour more recently. He claims that the cab seems to have shrunk in the intervening years….
