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Some four years after its purchase (along with Woolwich and a number of carriages), Carnegie, a unique Hunslet loco has finally made it to Waltham Abbey.
Hunslet 0-4-0 0-4-0, 18" gauge, Diesel Locomotive, Carnegie, Number 4524.
Carnegie was built by the Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd. for the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich in 1954, 20 years after the first of her class, Albert, was supplied to Woolwich. With the closure of the Arsenal's railway in 1961, Carnegie was sold along with an Avonside 0-4-0 steam locomotive and a number of carriages to Bicton Gardens in Devon.
In 1999, Bicton Gardens put the locos and some rolling stock up for sale, and as Woolwich Arsenal was a sister factory to the Royal Gunpowder Mills, and with a rail system of the same gauge, we felt that it was appropriate that we purchase the equipment.
So in late 2000, with the purchase of Woolwich, Carnegie, and associated rolling stock, Carnegie was stored at the Alan Keef Ltd site near Ross-on-Wye, with the intention that it would have one of its gearboxes repaired, though this was never done, due to financial constraints.
In the mean time Woolwich came directly to the Gunpowder Mills and was put under tarpaulins until such time as she could be put back into service.
Last year 2004, Alan Keef Ltd. found that they needed the space taken up by Carnegie, for a new contract, so it was decided to send Carnegie to Waltham Abbey to be put on display. In due course, and hopefully before the start of the 2005 season, Woolwich will also be put on display alongside Carnegie, to make an additional attraction to our railway display in the Large Exhibits area, and to the 2'-6" gauge railway under construction next to the land-train route. This comes from the successor cordite factory at Bishopton near Paisley, following its closure.
It is worth noting that both locos are unique examples of their type, being the only survivors of the Woolwich 18" gauge system, as well as the only ones of their types to survive the scrap man.
Locomotive Specification
Carnegie
Hunslet 75 Hp. Articulated Diesel Locomotive, with coupled 0-4-0 0-4-0 wheel arrangement.
Year of manufacture: 1954, Engine Number 4524.
Gauge 18"
Weight 13 tons 5 cwts.
Length 21'-2"
Width 5'-1 1/2 "
Height 9'
Woolwich
Avonside, 18" gauge, 0-4-0, Oil Fired steam Locomotive.
Year of manufacture: 1916, Engine Number 1748.
Weight 11 tons 5 cwts.
Length 15' 5"
Width 5' 4 "
Height 8' 6".
Cylinders 81/2" 0/ by 12" stroke.
Both locos are non-runners at present. Woolwich needs a ten year boiler certificate, and Carnegie has a faulty gearbox on the rear bogie. And of course we have no 18" gauge track at present, on which to run them.
However we live in hope that these obstacles can be easily overcome, and that we will end up with, not only a 2'-6" gauge railway (which is currently under construction), but a working 18" gauge railway as well, in the not too distant future.
