This is Mr R A Riddles light axle load 2-10-0 built for military use. 150 of these engines were built and most were used for military service overseas. This locomotive left Hyde Park Works of the North British Locomotive Company in December 1943 and never left this country. I believe it spent most of its service life on the Longmoor Military Railway as a training locomotive. The locomotive is named "Gordon" in memory of General Gordon of Khartoum
When the Army no longer needed the engine a new home was sort to ensure its preservation. It was hoped it could be preserved on the Longmoor Military Railway along with David Shepards collection but this was not to be and it eventually arrived on the SVR in about 1971. It has seen long service on the SVR although I have to say its colour scheme jars my eye. In the past it has been both Khaki and British Army Green and I must say that it would look a lot less toy like if it reverted to one of those colours. Still, it is Gordon I suppose and a lot of children would be unhappy if it didn't look like it.
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Copyright ©1999 Jim Rushton