South Devon Miniature Railway No. 10, a modified ‘Thomas II’ 0-4- 2T+T, is seen on a test run on March 19.
KELVIN STAPLETON/SDMR
A NEW loco is now based on the 7¼in gauge South Devon Miniature Railway (SDMR), Buckfastleigh, for the first for a decade. It is an 0-4-2T+T based on Roger Marsh’s ‘Thomas II’ design of 1979. Built by the railway’s operations manager Kelvin Stapleton, with assistance from family and friends, the project was started in late 2014. This was encouraged and assistance given by the late Gary Cooper, an SDMR founder, and whose name appears on the loco’s builder’s plate with Kelvin’s.
It has been styled on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway 0-6-0T duo, The Earl and Countess and finished in Great Western green, and numbered 10.It was completed in June 2022 going straight into service for an open day at the private Otterton & East Budleigh Light Railway, Devon. A few adjustments were required before entering service on the SDMR for the Easter weekend in April. Loco crew availability permitting, it should see much use on trains later this year.