Locomotives

The Leighton Buzzard Railway’s locomotive fleet numbers more than 50 in total, one of the largest narrow-gauge collections in the United Kingdom. You can find out about any new developments in the Latest News section.

Engines that you are likely to see on Leighton Buzzard Railway passenger trains:

P C ALLEN
Type: 0-4-0WT (well tank)
Date: 1912
Builder: Orenstein & Koppel, Berlin, Germany (Works No. 5834)
A typical O&K standard design, “P C Allen” was built for the internal railway system at the chemical works of Solvay & Cie, Torrelavega, Spain, and imported to England in 1963. A long-term regular on the passenger service.

DOLL
Type: 0-6-0T (side tank)
Date: 1919
Builder: Andrew Barclay, Kilmarnock, Scotland (Works no 1641)
“Doll” was one of three identical locomotives built for the Sydenham ironstone quarries, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. When the quarries closed in 1925, they were sent to Bilston steelworks, near Wolverhampton, where “Doll” worked until it was withdrawn in 1959. After brief spells in preservation near Kenilworth, Warwickshire, and at Bressingham, Norfolk, it arrived at Leighton Buzzard in 1969, and has had several periods of active service. Currently a mainstay of the passenger service, and 90 years old this year.

778
Type: 4-6-0T (side tank)
Date: 1917
Builder: Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, USA (Works No. 44656)
One of 495 locomotives built by Baldwin, for the War Department Light Railways. They operated on the thousands of miles of narrow-gauge tracks that supplied the front line trenches in the First World War. It then worked in India until the 1980s, finishing at the Upper India Sugar Mills in Uttar Pradesh. The first of its type to steam in Britain since the 1940s, it entered service in 2007, following a major overhaul. Click here for more details.

BEAUDESERT
Type: 4-wheel diesel-hydraulic
Date: 1999
Builder: Alan Keef, Ross-on-Wye, England (Works No 59R)
Built to LBR specifications for passenger train and standby duties, “Beaudesert” used many parts from an earlier 900mm gauge Simplex locomotive, supplied to the National Coal Board in 1979, and later used as a shunter on the Channel Tunnel construction project. It is powered by a 112hp Dorman diesel engine.

Other stars from our locomotive collection:

CHALONER
Type: 0-4-0VBT (vertical-boiler tank)
Date: 1877
Builder: DeWinton, Caernarfon, Wales
One of the oldest working narrow-gauge engines in the country--and the first steam engine on the Leighton Buzzard Railway, in 1968--”Chaloner” is a fine example of DeWinton’s distinctive vertical-boiler design for the North Wales slate quarries, and last used at Pen-yr-Orsedd, Nantlle. Currently out of service awaiting overhaul.

PIXIE
Type: 0-4-0ST (saddle tank)
Date: 1922
Builder: Kerr Stuart, Stoke-on-Trent, England (Works No. 4260)
A Kerr Stuart “Wren” class, supplied originally to contractors for use on road-building projects, “Pixie” was bought by Devon County Council in 1929, and sent to work at Wilminstone stone quarry, near Tavistock. Arrived at the Leighton Buzzard Railway in 1968, and, with “Chaloner”, was the mainstay of the passenger service for many years. Its privately owned twin, “Peter Pan”, is also based at Leighton Buzzard. “Pixie” is currently on hire to the Devon Railway Centre.

RISHRA
Type: 0-4-0T (side tank)
Date: 1921
Builder: Baguley Cars, Burton-on-Trent, England (Works No. 2007)
This tiny machine is the only working survivor of the small number of steam engines built by Baguley, who were much better known for their diesel locomotives and railcars. Supplied to Kolkata (Calcutta) Corporation, India, it shunted coal wagons at a water pumping station.

ELF

Type: 0-6-0WT (well tank)

Date: 1936

Builder: Orenstein & Koppel, Berlin, Germany (Works No 12740)

Used on plantation railways in Cameroon, West Africa, and originally wood-fired, which accounts for the distinctive chimney shape. It is being reassembled after a major overhaul, and should be back in service in time for the 2010 season.

SEZELA NO 4

Type: 0-4-0T (side tank)

Date: 1915

Builder: Avonside, Bristol, England (Works No 1738)

Built for the 125-mile railway system that once served the extensive Sezela sugar-cane plantation in Natal, South Africa. Now based at the Leighton Buzzard Railway but privately owned, it is a regular performer at special events.

PETER WOOD

Type: 4-wheel diesel-hydraulic

Date: 1994

Builder: Hunslet, Leeds, England (Works No 9347)

Narrow-gauge locomotives are still being built for specialist work, and this is a good example of a modern design. One of the last products of the famous Jack Lane works in Leeds, it was one of six supplied to the contract to build the Jubilee Line extension of the London Underground. Powered by a 90hp Deutz engine, it is named after the late member whose bequest made its purchase and adaptation possible.

LR3098
Type: 4-wheel petrol-mechanical
Date: 1918
Builder: Motor Rail, Bedford, England (Works No. 1377)
A rare working survivor of the “protected” (lightly armoured) 40hp petrol locomotives built for the War Department Light Railways, for supplying the First World War battlefields in France. After the war, several of this type were used to haul sand trains at Leighton Buzzard, but all were scrapped by the end of the 1950s. LR3098 worked at Knostrop sewage works, Leeds, and is on long-term loan from the National Railway Museum, York. LR2182, the only known survivor, in original mechanical condition, of the fully armoured version of the same type. It was donated by the National Army Museum, and awaits full resoration, after the cosmetic work done to celebrate the LBR’s 90th anniversary..

FESTOON
Type: 4-wheel petrol-mechanical
Date: 1929
Builder: Motor Rail, Bedford, England (Works No 4570)
The oldest locomotive that is original to the railway, “Festoon” was built in 1929 to a 20hp design developed for the battlefield supply lines of the First World War, and is probably a rebuild of a wartime machine. Initially used on contracting work, it was sold to the George Garside quarry company in 1931, and hauled sand trains at Leighton Buzzard. It survived the arrival of newer diesels, by being converted to a self-propelled fitters’ workbench.