The Friends of "Illingworth" are working to restore the only
surviving steam engine from the Nidd Valley Light Railway.
"Illingworth"
was first named "Mitchell" when manufactured by Hudswell Clarke of
Leeds for war work at the Ministry of Munition at Gretna Green. It was bought by
the Bradford Corporation in 1922 to work passenger and goods trains on the Nidd
Valley Light Railway between Pately Bridge and Lofthouse and up to the reservoir
site at Scar House. In 1930 it was renamed "Illingworth". |
 |
| Illingworth, A rusting hulk | |
| Upon Closure of the line in 1936 it was sold to Sir Robert
McAlpine Ltd., renamed "Harold" and worked upon the building of the
huge Ebbw Vale steelworks. It was sold to Mowlems in 1940 and once again carried
out war duties this time at Swynnerton and Ruddington, taking the name "Swynnerton".
In 1946 it worked on the Workington breakwater and then Mowlem's Braehead power
station before being consigned to scrap in 1957. Somehow the engine survived
intact, spending half its life as a rusting hulk, passing through several owners
but never on public display. |
The rotting hulk is now being restored by the friends of Illingworth. All
the small components, (several tons!) have been delivered to Yorkshire cleaned
and painted. Very corroded parts such as spring hangers have been renewed and
all bearings will be checked, rebushed and machined.
The large parts
such as boiler, firebox, frames, cab and wheels should be picked up in August
and delivered to specialist contractors. |
 |
| Illingworth, On the mend | |
| All being well Illingworth will steam again by 1999 and offer
visitors to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam railway picnic trips, pulling
an old coach which has already been restored and may
be one or two other fine Victorian carriages. |
| 1
| 2 |
3 |
