GWR 0-6-0PT No. L92 returns to Cranmore from Mendip Vale on April 30.
KEITH MARSHALL
PASSENGERS on the East Somerset Railway (ESR) have recently had the rare opportunity to travel behind a GWR 0-6-0PT along the line, following the visit of No. L92 (5786) from the South Devon Railway (SDR).
The Pannier’s visit arose following the SDR’s need to fill the void left by 0-6-0ST No. 813, which failed at the Severn Valley Railway gala. Prairie No. 4555, which is on hire to the ESR from the Dartmouth Steam Railway was dispatched to the SDR to star in its 150th anniversary event (see picture on p67). In return, the SDR sent London Transport liveried No. L92 to Cranmore, initially planned for one weekend only.
However, No. L92 is due to remain at Cranmore until No. 4555 has been repaired by the SDR. A low speed shunting incident occurred at Buckfastleigh station yard on May 3 involving SDR resident Prairie No. 5526. There were no injuries, but No. 4555 was damaged. In mid-May, no timescales had been confirmed, but it was estimated No. L92 could head ‘home’ in around a month.