Work in Progress: 22nd October HNGT

WIP at the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust?

This special report comes from Trustee Paul Curson

The Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust (HNGT) has kindly donated the parts of a 7 Lever Knee Frame to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

Due to their decision to disband (see Press Release below) the HNGT will be donating various pieces of their collection of railway equipment to other like-minded groups where it will find a new use.

On Tuesday this week a group of four of us had an early start, 7.00 am, for the drive to Southampton to pick up the complete set of parts for this lever frame which is similar to the frame in Woody Bay signal box. This fame is intended for use at Chelfham. Due to an unintended detour, we were somewhat late arriving but soon had the parts on the trailer, with the heavy end plates within the towing truck.

1. Graham Varney, Martyn Budd, Jim Pounds with members of the HNGT.

2. Martyn and Jim with an end plate.

3. The various parts all loaded read for departure.

Our thanks go to the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust for their valuable donation to the L&B of this scarce piece of mechanical signalling equipment.

Words and photos Paul Curson

PRESS RELEASE: Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust

After 55 years the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust is to close, following issues with its site at the Brickworks in Bursledon near Southampton where it was given a rolling one year lease which has stopped it obtaining grants to build a restoration shed. Also the decreasing numbers and increasing age of the volunteers and members has meant that it has struggled to find the necessary manpower required to keep the railway running.

Following meetings with its members to gain approval it was agreed that HNGRT would give notice to leave Bursledon and distribute its assets to other Narrow Gauge Trusts where they could ensure that their future was secure.

HNGRT can now announce that many of its significant items as listed below will be passed to The Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust.

• Bagnall Wendy No 2091 of 1919
• Hunslet Cloister No 542 of 1891
• MR petrol Simplex Brambridge Hall No 5226 of 1936
• MR petrol Simplex Agwi Pet No4736 of 1939
• Ex Ramsgate Electric Railway Coach circa 1936

HNGRT trustee Phil Mason said that he and the other trustees were confident that the locomotives would be well looked after and continue to be seen and enjoyed by the many visitors to Statfold Barn Railway which is already seen as the Narrow Gauge National Collection. HNGRT has always been keen to see its locomotives visiting other railways and sites and the fact that the locomotives in the Statfold collection do so as well was something that ticked another box for HNGRT

The two steam locomotives will move to Statfold Barn when their current hire agreements expire in November. Cloister is currently at Bressingham and Wendy at Amberley.

HNGRT will make further announcements on the disposal of the rest of its collection, which includes a number of wagons in the near future.