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Locomotive brought back to former glory
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 19th Mar 2001.
THE nostalgia season continued full steam ahead yesterday when a snub-nosed locomotive, restored to its former gleaming glory at a cost of £35,000, graced the track of the Swindon and Cricklade Railway.
For mums, dads and their children, the experience was a real joy.
"The return to service of a steam locomotive is always a big event at any heritage railway and represents a huge amount of time and money on the part of those who have been involved in the work," said Russell Wear, spokesman for the Swindon and Cricklade Railway.
Bearing the rather unglamorous name, Slough Estates No. 3, the six-wheel tank loco, was back to huff and puff work for the first time in about 20 years.
Regarded with respect and reverence, its history and origins are much more humble than the status it now enjoys. Built in Leeds in 1924, it was originally used for shunting on the large trading estate at Slough, hence its name.
But in 1973, it was unceremoniously made redundant when an oil pipeline was built to serve the power station on the estate.
In those days, steam trains were part of the present. It was not until they were ditched into the past that the likes of Slough Estates No 3 discovered that there indeed was life after death. After being retired, Slough Estates No 3 went to the Mid Hants Railway, but was soon taken out of service for a complete overhaul. In its own tradition, it was then shunted on to Slough and Windsor Railway Society like an unwanted orphan, until finding a proper home in 1999 at Blunsdon, where the restoration was lovingly completed.
Now it can feel wanted again as it repays the faith and investment of its new owners by lighting up the lives of all steam fans young and old throughout the region.
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