Following on from the extremely successful visit to the Launceston Steam Railway of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway locomotive this summer, the Launceston Steam Railway is welcoming another visitor for the October half-term week (25th – 30th October).
'Gertrude' has recently come to the end of a lengthy restoration. Built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1918, the locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1959. Fortunately she escaped the scrapman for long enough to be rescued by Max Sinclair, who also saved sister locomotive 'The Doll'. The latter was soon in steam again, but Gertrude was not so fortunate. She passed first to Neville Melhuish, and then to Peter and Sue Westmacott who created an engineering base for what was to be a long restoration. After many years, ill-health brought the work to a halt, and in 2006 the locomotive moved to Exmoor Transport in North Devon for completion, the work being completed this year by a team led by Les Driver.
Whilst many cars have lady owners, few steam locomotives do. Gertrude however is one of these, now being owned by Sarah Westmacott, Peter's daughter. When the loco visits Launceston, she will be in good company, as Kay Bowman owns 'Dorothea', which is now in the final stages of a lengthy and painstaking restoration in the railway's workshops, undertaken by Kay herself.
Nigel Bowman, Managing Director of the Launceston Steam Railway said:
'We have decided to open for the half-term holiday this year – it is really the last chance for a day out before winter sets in. The colours of autumn are also well worth seeing, and as the leaves fall, new views open up.
It is an added bonus to have another visiting locomotive, and particularly fortunate that she will be able to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her last steaming before preservation while she is with us.
Gertrude is a locomotive that many people will not have seen before, so this visit to Launceston is particularly welcome.'
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Times of trains and fares can be found on the LSR website at www.launcestonsr.co.uk, whilst Gertrude has her own dedicated website at www.gertrude1578.co.uk.
'Gertrude' has recently come to the end of a lengthy restoration. Built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1918, the locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1959. Fortunately she escaped the scrapman for long enough to be rescued by Max Sinclair, who also saved sister locomotive 'The Doll'. The latter was soon in steam again, but Gertrude was not so fortunate. She passed first to Neville Melhuish, and then to Peter and Sue Westmacott who created an engineering base for what was to be a long restoration. After many years, ill-health brought the work to a halt, and in 2006 the locomotive moved to Exmoor Transport in North Devon for completion, the work being completed this year by a team led by Les Driver.
Whilst many cars have lady owners, few steam locomotives do. Gertrude however is one of these, now being owned by Sarah Westmacott, Peter's daughter. When the loco visits Launceston, she will be in good company, as Kay Bowman owns 'Dorothea', which is now in the final stages of a lengthy and painstaking restoration in the railway's workshops, undertaken by Kay herself.
Nigel Bowman, Managing Director of the Launceston Steam Railway said:
'We have decided to open for the half-term holiday this year – it is really the last chance for a day out before winter sets in. The colours of autumn are also well worth seeing, and as the leaves fall, new views open up.
It is an added bonus to have another visiting locomotive, and particularly fortunate that she will be able to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her last steaming before preservation while she is with us.
Gertrude is a locomotive that many people will not have seen before, so this visit to Launceston is particularly welcome.'
--
Times of trains and fares can be found on the LSR website at www.launcestonsr.co.uk, whilst Gertrude has her own dedicated website at www.gertrude1578.co.uk.