Steam loco 0-6-0 1933 Robert outside Stratford Station

[Tony2]

I’ve only just noticed this today, does anyone know how long it has been here?

 

[simonw]

I’ve only just noticed this today, does anyone know how long it has been here?

Avonside Engine Co Works No 2068 Robert 0-6-0ST

This locomotive was built by the Avonside Engine Company in 1933 for the Staveley Coal and Iron Ltd for use at their Lamport Calcine Sidings, Hanging Houghton, Northants. It worked there for all of…

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

Since 2011

 

[Trainlog]

I’ve only just noticed this today, does anyone know how long it has been here?

Jago Hazzard made a good video about this loco's history a few years back.

 

[Taunton]

Sort of as described in the video (!). It was one of a number of 'preserved' industrial items that the London Docklands Development Corporation put around in the 1980s, although unlike dockside cranes and suchlike it didn't have a local background. I recall it initially beside the new main road past the Beckton gasworks site, not far from the DLR Beckton depot. A rather remote location, it became appallingly spray-paint graffitied, just around the time the LDDC was wound up and their assets passed to the relevant local authority, in this case Newham, who moved it on to where it is now. It must have had to be completely repainted, especially as I think it was green or black, not bright red.

Stratford was of course a significant railway engineering centre in its past, so the most relevant point in the authority's area for a steam loco, many of which were built nearby - but not this one. When repainted it would have been nice to have used GER blue.

 

[Tony2]

I do like the video, thanks for the link.

I thought I was seeing things at first glance from inside the station, it took a few seconds to process this red random shape as a locomotive!

It does look out of context in the modern surroundings, but is certainly something different.

 

[John Webb]

It is, in my opinion, a rather feeble attempt to remind people of Stratford's former status as a large locomotive works for the Great Eastern and for British Railways. A Great Eastern loco would be far more appropriate!

 

[JKF]

Given the history, it should be at home on the Northampton & Lamport Railway!

 

[Sheldonian]

Looks a mess and rather neglected at its current location.
Saw it last saturday and it had been daubed with grafiti since i saw it last.
Be nice if it was donated to somebody like the Northampton & Lamport railway bscause the locals dont seem to appreciate it and the council dont seem keen to either tidy it up or protect it from the weather or the local artists.

 

[Trainlog]

Given the history, it should be at home on the Northampton & Lamport Railway!

Looks a mess and rather neglected at its current location.
Saw it last saturday and it had been daubed with grafiti since i saw it last.
Be nice if it was donated to somebody like the Northampton & Lamport railway bscause the locals dont seem to appreciate it and the council dont seem keen to either tidy it up or protect it from the weather or the local artists.

I do think that in its current condition, it might not be a bad idea to donate it to the Northampton and Lamport railway providing they have a plan for an overhaul or a provided area of dry storage for the loco, especially if it's accurate to the history of the area.

It is, in my opinion, a rather feeble attempt to remind people of Stratford's former status as a large locomotive works for the Great Eastern and for British Railways. A Great Eastern loco would be far more appropriate!

Seeming as there are so few GER locos left, as much as it would be nice to have one as a reminder of the works I doubt the NRM would let one take its place.

The best solution, imo, to getting a more accurate loco to represent the GER works would be if the Claude Hamilton loco trust gives their donations to Alan Keef and build a 1/3 scale (15inch gauge) replica of a Claude Hamilton to plinth at Stratford or Liverpool Street station, then giving the remaining, if there are any funds towards a different new build group like what the J50 trust did when they cancelled their project.

Lets face it, the trust hasn't posted anything about the project in 5 years but if they decide to start closing it down, the 1/3 scale Claude Hamilton will serve as a better reminder of the works especially if it was painted in GER blue.

A 15inch gauge loco also won't take up as much room as a full-scale standard gauge loco and can be placed in the dry inside a station on display.

 

[Taunton]

the 1/3 scale Claude Hamilton will serve as a better reminder of the works especially if it was painted in GER blue.

There's already a wall graphic including a GER 0-6-0, in blue, at the east end of Great Eastern Road (inevitably), nearby. It's close to where the works entrance was.

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