Latest news with #HunsletEngineCompany
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Attraction 'like mythical Egyptian tomb' resurrected after fears it had been lost
The 1929 locomotive was found in a Carmelite convent near Ware, Hertfordshire, in 2016 and has now re-entered service at the North Norfolk Railway in Sheringham A historical steam engine echoing the allure of a "mythical Egyptian tomb" has been resurrected after many feared it was swallowed by history. After almost 10 years of meticulous restoration, it now resides on the coastline as its new sanctuary. "The Newstead", an impressive industrial steam locomotive discovered at a convent, has begun its next journey along the coastal tracks. The 1929 treasure emerged from obscurity at a Carmelite convent close to Ware, Hertfordshire, in 2016. It made its grand return to action at North Norfolk Railway in Sheringham this past Saturday following a laborious nine-year overhaul. Enthusiastic about the momentous occasion, Alex Alder, the owner of the train, told BBC: "After nine years of efforts, for the very first time ever she pulled passenger trains. It was absolutely incredible." Alex likened unearthing the engine to uncovering "of a mythical Egyptian tomb", reports the Express. Birthed by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds back in 1929, as per details from North Norfolk Railway, the locomotive enjoyed an illustrious but finite career before the National Coal Board retired it in 1972. Having been a jewel in the crown of vintage vehicle enthusiast Malcolm Saul since the late 1970s, this classic engine was enshrined within a custom-built shed to shield it from the ravages of British weather. After Malcolm's passing in 2015, his treasured engine was thought to be a relic of the past, that is until it re-emerged from the shadows. "I fully never expected to be driven down a Hertfordshire country lane, following a wild tip off about a lost engine. I could never have imagined taking tea and biscuits with [a] mother superior at a convent, and hearing of 'Malcolm's engine'. "But there it was in this convent in Hertfordshire, 39 tons of miracle," he continued. Alex explained that resurrecting the locomotive set him back by roughly £200,000, a labour of love that harnessed the dedication of volunteers for nine years. The North Norfolk Railway has announced their plans to put the revived locomotive to good use, drawing passengers between Sheringham and Holt. General Manager Graham Hukins couldn't hide his joy, proclaiming it "absolutely wonderful" to witness the engine come alive in Sheringham. "The engine that was stuck in a nunnery, lost for years, everyone thought it had been scrapped. This weekend is the very first time it has been paired with passenger carriages, and it is an absolute delight to have it join our working fleet." Being involved in this remarkable recovery and seeing the engine chuffing once again holds special meaning for them, particularly as they mark half a century of railway operations at North Norfolk Railway.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Steam locomotive starts new journey in Sheringham
An industrial steam engine found in a convent has started a new chapter on the 1929 locomotive, called "Newstead", was found in a Carmelite convent near Ware, Hertfordshire, in re-entered service at the North Norfolk Railway in Sheringham on Saturday after a nine-year Alder, the owner of the locomotive, said: "After nine years of efforts, for the very first time ever she pulled passenger trains. It was absolutely incredible." Newstead rolled off the production line of the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds in 1929, North Norfolk Railway 96-year-old locomotive was withdrawn from service by the National Coal Board in was purchased in the late 1970s by vintage vehicle collector Malcolm Saul, who built a shed around the engine to help protect it from the Mr Saul died in 2015, people had thought the engine was lost but was later found next to the nunnery. Mr Alder said discovering the engine was like hearing "of a mythical Egyptian tomb". "I fully never expected to be driven down a Hertfordshire country lane, following a wild tip off about a lost engine. "I could never have imagined taking tea and biscuits with [a] mother superior at a convent, and hearing of 'Malcolm's engine'."But there it was in this convent in Hertfordshire, 39 tons of miracle," he Alder said it cost him about £200,000 to restore the locomotive, taking a team of volunteers about nine years to overhaul. North Norfolk Railway said it will use the engine to pull passenger carriages from Sheringham to Holt. Graham Hukins, the general manager of North Norfolk Railway, said it was "absolutely wonderful" to see the engine running in Sheringham. "The engine that was stuck in a nunnery, lost for years, everyone thought it had been scrapped."This weekend is the very first time it has been paired with passenger carriages, and it is an absolute delight to have it join our working fleet."He said "to be part of that tale and to see her back in working order" was special as they celebrated 50-years of running trains at North Norfolk Railway. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks or BBC Norfolk.
