The Moseley Railway Trust is pleased to announce that Bagnall saddle tank locomotive “Woto” will be arriving at the Apedale Valley Light Railway. Built by W.G.Bagnall and leaving their Stafford works in July 1924, “Woto” worked at a cable factory in Kent. In 1988, the loco was purchased by Patrick Keef, managing director of Alan Keef Ltd, the well-known manufacturer and overhauler of narrow-gauge railway equipment. Patrick re-gauged the locomotive from its previous 3’6″ gauge to the more common 2’0″ gauge, and has been the custodian of the loco since. However, Patrick has made the difficult decision to pass on the ownership of the locomotive to others.
Patrick Keef commented “After 36 years of ownership, and with Woto reaching 100 years old, I felt the time was right for her to have a new lease of life. With the ever-increasing cost challenges for visiting engines, it felt only right that it should be resident on a railway where it would be used regularly, seen by many and enjoyed by all. With Woto now about to move to its new home at Apedale, I have several projects lined up to take its place including starting on the restoration of the Motor Rail & Tramcar Ltd locomotive ‘Dalmunzie’ that will haul the now completely restored set of carriages and wagons from the Dalmunzie Railway. I wish Woto well and enjoyment to all those involved in running her in the future.”
Dr John Rowlands, co-chair of the Moseley Railway Trust, said “We are delighted to be able to welcome Woto to the Apedale Valley Light Railway. Apedale, in north Staffordshire, is a particularly fitting new home for Woto, since it left Staffordshire a century ago. We don’t have a Bagnall loco in the Apedale fleet. Woto will close that gap in the collection, and promises to be a locomotive ideally suited to operate services at Apedale. We would like to express our gratitude to Patrick Keef for allowing us to take this opportunity”.
Woto is expected to arrive at Apedale in October. Necessary testing and crew training will take place after the end of the main operating season. It is expected that, subject to any last-minute hitches, the loco will be in operation at the Winter Warmers steam gala on December 28.
