Rutland Railway Museum

For the US railway see Rutland Railway

Rutland Railway Museum now trading as Rocks by Rail: The Living Ironstone Museum is a heritage railway on part of a former Midland Railway mineral branch line. It is situated NE of Oakham, in Rutland, England.

Overview

The branch line linked to the Melton Mowbray to Oakham main line at Ashwell Station. Exchange sidings were once located at the museum serving three separate private quarry railway systems associated with the past extraction of iron ore. The museum site was known locally as Cottesmore Iron Ore Mines Sidings.

The museum aims to collect and show industrial locomotives and mineral wagons from iron ore and similar mines. They also have a face shovel and dumpers as used in a quarry. The cab of the massive dragline excavator Sundew is on display here.

The museum operates trains on a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) length of track and occupies an area of nearly 7 acres (28,000 m²).

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

• • Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 3865 "Singapore" built in 1936. awaiting boiler retube.
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1931 "BSC No. 2 built in 1927. in steam 9years left on boiler ticket.
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2088 "Sir Thomas Royden" built in 1940. Almost finished, the boiler has been inspected and is back in the frames, the saddle tank, and cab is back on the frames. Planned to be complete september 2011.
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 776 "Firefly" built in 1896, being sold in 1899. Undergoing restoration with frames, tank and cab receiving attention. (Also carried the names "Albion" and "Punch Hull" during working life).
  • Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST outside cylinder Works No. 2350 "Belvoir".^[1] Awaiting restoration: requires a new smokebox as well as work on the rest of the engine before it can be steamed again. Painted dark blue, lined-out in black and yellow.
  • Bagnall 0-6-0ST "Cranford" No. 2. Awaiting overhaul, boiler ticket expired in 2006.
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 8 . Undergoing major restoration with chassis almost complete.
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 1257 "Uppingham" built in 1912. Stored, planned to be exhibited in the new museum building.
  • Avonside 0-6-0ST No. 1972 "Stamford" built in 1927. Back on site from the Bluebell Rly, no short term plans to restore.
  • Hawthorn Leslie 0-6-0ST No. 3138 built in 1915. Under restoration.
  • Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0ST Vigilant 287 of 1882 undergoing restoration to running order for the first time in preservation .

Diesel locomotives

• • Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-0DE No. 2872 built in 1962. Stored awaiting restoration but it is intended to be restored shortly.
  • Sentinel 0-4-0DH No. 10201 "Betty" built in 1964. In full working order Non vac fitted cab rides and freight trains only.
  • Sentinel 0-4-0DH No. 10207 "Graham" built in 1965. Under restoration Vac fitted.
  • John Fowler & Co. 0-4-0DH No. 4220007 "Ketton No. 1" built in 1960. Operational but needs painting.
  • Ruston Class 165DE 0-4-0DH No. 421436 "Elizabeth" built in 1958. Out of service but can be run.
  • Thomas Hill 4wdDH No. 177 "Mr D" built in 1967. In full working order and popular for shunting, cab rides and freight trains only.
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DH No. 499 built in 1965. Stored awaiting restoration.
  • North British Locomotive Company 0-4-0DH No. 27656 built in 1957. Stored awaiting restoration.
  • Ruston Class 48DS 4wd No. 411319 built in 1955. Operational, sometimes found coupled to the tools van or the goods trains.
  • Ruston Class LPSE 0-4-0DE No. 544997 built in 1969. Undergoing restoration, the bodywork has been overhauled but it needs mechanical attention before it can run again.

Wagons

The museum has a whole selection of wagons which are used for demonstrations on open days. Details are below.

• Open Wooden Wagon rake

This rake is not currently operational.

• • Stanton Ironworks Co. 4-plank wagon 624.
  • Stanton Ironworks Co. 5-plank wagon 818.
  • Stanton Ironworks Co. 5-plank wagon 849.
  • Stanton Ironworks Co. 5-plank wagon 860.
  • Stewarts and Lloyds 4-plank wagon 3046.
  • Stewarts and Lloyds 4-plank wagon 3153.

• Hopper Wagon Train

This rake is available for use and can be seen in operation.

• • LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon M691079.
  • LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon M691193.
  • LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon M691448.
  • LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon M691595.
  • LMS Iron Ore Hopper Wagon M691982.
  • Appleby-Frodingham Iron Ore Hopper Wagon P210000.
  • Sheepbridge Iron and Steel Co. Hopper Wagon 8251.
  • Private Owner Steel Mineral Hopper Wagon P15675.

Industrial locomotives

from many builders including:

• W. G. Bagnall
• English Electric
• Hibberd (Planet)
• Hudswell Clarke
• John Fowler
• Hunslet
• Ruston & Hornsby
• Thomas Hill
• Yorkshire Engine Company

External links

• the new website
• The Museum website
• The Museum's editable website

References