THE Bodmin & Wenford Railway (BWR) received a welcome visitor to assist with its peak summer timetable on July 30 – Mid-Hants Railway-based BR ‘2MT’ No. 41312.
The news brought the sight and sound of the BR Standard attacking Bodmin’s banks – with gradients as steep as 1-in-40.
While the 2-6-2T is no stranger to gradients on its home line – which is affectionately known as the ‘Alps’ – the need to climb Bodmin’s hills proved a challenge. Therefore, the lvatt was ‘top-and-tailed’ with Class 08 diesel No. 08444.
Explaining the reason for the visit, a BWR spokesman told the RM: “For all of July, the BWR has been relying on Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 75178 as its sole source of steam motive power. The loco has performed admirably for five days each week on the railway’s 1-in-40 gradients with a four-coach train, but the time was fast approaching for routine servicing and a boiler wash.