95 “Merlin” Robert Hudson LX1001 of 1968

DSC_0007
Merlin being loaded for Apedale

Probably uniquely, the presence of this loco along with no.44 means that MRT has the entire postwar home-build output of Hudson, one of the biggest names in narrow gauge equipment.

Along with no.44, no.95 went on hire for a while to the Central Electricity Generating Board cable tunnel railway at Woodhead. However, they did not impress, and were returned to Hudson within a couple of months of their arrival. Hudson managed to sell the loco to The Dredging and Construction Co Ltd at Kings Lynn. By 1976, the loco was for sale; it was reported at the time that the loco was to have gone to Saudi Arabia, but it seems the deal fell through. At some time in 1976, it moved to a pleasure line at Pendine, Wales. It is possible that a dealer, S.P.Wheeler of Colchester, was involved along the line! A steam outline body was fitted whilst the loco was at Pendine. By 1985, the loco was in a Llanelli Borough Council store; it was “rebuilt” in 1986, which is probably when the current bodywork was added. It may be noted that, underneath the current plywood body, most of the Hudson bodywork (as seen no.44) survives -albeit painted green. The loco then moved to a pleasure railway at Pembrey Country Park. This railway ran around the site of a closed Royal Ordnance Factory. 1997 saw the loco move to the Devon Railway Centre, and thence to a private railway in Leicestershire in July 2001. The owner of that railway very kindly donated the loco to the trust and the 21st of April 2015 saw the locomotive move to Apedale wear a joyful reunion with it’s long lost twin took place. The loco is a runner but the body work makes day-to-day operation rather challenging!