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Monckton No. 1
Built in Leeds by Hunslets as their No.3788 in 1953, Monckton No.1 was one of the later Austerity saddletanks. Delivered new
to the colliery of the same name at Royston, near to Barnsley, the engine went to a big colliery. New Monckton had three
shafts, and adjacent to it was a cokeworks, which is still active today, and has been of great assistance to the railway with
gifts of trackwork. The railway system was extensive with lots of sidings to serve such a big complex, but also lines to the
Aire & Calder navigation, the spoil tip, the Midland Railway and the Hull & Barnsley sidings at Shafton. The date
was 23rd February 1980 when the photograph on the right was taken by Steve Pennock - the day the locomotive left the NCB for
a new home at Embsay.
Each day three engines worked the day shift (6a.m. - 2p.m.), two worked the afternoons (2p.m. - 10p.m.) and one engine was
kept in steam overnight in case of emergencies. One of Monckton's duties was to shunt the coking plant's sidings. With larger
wagons and better locos, the size of the fleet required reduced to four engines, and in 1963 Monkton No.1 was converted to
run using the Hunslet underfeed stoker and gas producer system, as detailed by the Hunslet order book.
In November, after the colliery closed in 1967, Monckton No.1 was transferred to North Gawber Colliery, Mapplewell, some three
miles north of Barnsley, along with one of its drivers, Jim Norton. Here the underfeed stoker system was not liked, as it
just put the coal on in a heap, which then had to be spread. The other problem was the fire burning back up the stoker and
setting fore to the contents of the bunker, before modifications were made!
John Mills visited and took a number of photographs at North Gawber Colliery, some of which feature Monckton No.1. I am very
grateful to him for the scans he provided which can be found here as part of his collection.
Upon arrival at North Gawber Colliery, it was considered to be a good loco, and from September 1968, it was the working loco.
When prospects improved, two locos were again used, and after having a couple of tubes replaced, Monckton No.1 seems to have
been relegated to being the spare engine, with the tyres repordedly in very bad condition. 1974 saw saw repairs being carried
out in a roofless shed (repairs had started when the shed had a roof!), which involved re-wheeling with newly re-tyred wheels.
The corroded bunker was repaired with filler, as re-discovered with the recent overhaul!
In 1980 the engine came to Embsay (see the photos below), and was used on the first Harvest of Steam
on a three wagon freight and heading a cavalcade of engines. The underfeed stoker had been used on that day too. The engine
was very much in 'as received' condition, but in 1981 it had a repaint and again worked the freights, this time a much longer
train was available. Monckton worked passenger trains after fitting with vacuum pipes and remained a useable member of the
fleet until persistently leaking tubes caused its demise. Desptite there being little wrong with the engine, it was laid aside
and it wasn't until 1997 that work began to overhaul it. In the photograph (left), taken by Charles Boylan, Monckton is
seen running round its train at Skibeden Loop in April 1983.
This was a very stop / start affair as work on the running fleet and a shortage of volunteers caused long periods of
inactivity, and much frustration to the loco department. The engine has had welding carried out to its firebox tubeplate,
new smokebox, tubes, eccentrics re-metalled and motion re-bushed. A poor repair on one of the eccentric journals was investigated
and put right. The valvegear, very much at the heart of of an engine's performance, has been thoroughly overhauled. The
coupling rod brasses were re-metalled. A new bunker, new cab roof, new sections of tank and other fabrication work has been
done. The piston rings have also been replaced.
During restoration, scoring was found to the left-hand cylinder, whether this is caused by broken piston rings or other
foreign material is not known, but the result is a squeak when running! The engine was first steamed on May 27th 2002 and
moved on the coal dock road. The following Sunday, June 2nd, it ran light engine to Bolton Abbey. Photos of this can be seen
lower down the page. Hectic activity followed, preparing the engine for the Foxfield Railway's gala on June 21st, including
a lot of filling and sanding to hide the welding on the tank. Some photos from its time on the Foxfield can be found at the
bottom of this page.
Back at Embsay the loco has been hauling service trains, and has also had some further attention to adjust components as they
bed in. Further painting work is still outstanding, but this will take place at some stage shortly, along with other minor
jobs.
Monckton worked very successfully during the 2005 Santa season, but was failed towards the end of it
with leaking tubes / firebox. This took most of 2006 to rectify, but Monckton successfully passed its tests and entered
traffic just in time for the 2006 Santa Specials. One notable change was that the squeak that characterised the loco since
returning to traffic has now gone. Monckton was repainted into original livery, as can be seen in the second
photograph of Monckton before preservation, when she was 2 years old, working at Monckton Colliery on 16/10/55. The only
change is that she retains the gas producer chimney currently fitted, as well as the headlamp, which will eventually
be powered! The result of the problems encountered in 2006 was that Monckton was withdrawn early with a new firebox being
required, but not bad mechanically. Hopefully attention will be able to be turned to her shortly. Until that time she is
stored on display at Bolton Abbey
More photos of Monckton at North Gawber Colliery
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Some more photos from Monckton's last day at North Gawber colliery. The board under the smiley face
chalked onto the smokebox reads "I'M OFF TO THE DALES RAILWAY EMBSAY NR SKIPTON" - a shameless bit
of advertising for the line!!
(c) Dave Barlow collection.
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More photos of Monckton at Embsay
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Monckton was moved from the isolated shed base in 1997 for restoration to
start. This involved temporay track being laid across the site of the top
yard, slewing the main line to link up and then shunting the siding to get
the locos out that were required.
(c) Dave Outibridge.
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3rd June, 2002, and the restoration is almost complete as Monckton
sits in steam on the shed road at Embsay prior to a test run after the last
train.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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With everyone else looking on in anticipation, Monckton sits on the shed road at Embsay. Apparantly it came very close to
running without a chimney as it was forgotten until fairly late on!
(c) Rob Daniels.
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Time for a quick inspection at Holywell Halt before (?) pressing on towards
Bolton Abbey (under Holywell Bridge in the background).
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The side-on view taken at the same time as the previous shot gives some
impression of the work left to do on the loco, including fitting the chimney,
the dome cover, as well as all the rest of the filling and painting.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Monckton is seen at the Embsay end of Bolton Abbey station in this shot - its
first trip along the line beyond Skibeden Loop.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Once more at Holywell, presumably on the return to Embsay, although I'm not
entirely sure.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The paintwork is completed, and Monckton is ready to head off for the Foxfield
Railway's Gala, seen standing outside the shed at Embsay.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Monckton in action climbing up towards Stoneacre from Bolton Abbey. This view
is afforded to all the motorists on the A59!
(c) Tim Warner.
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Monckton entering Embsay station, exchanging the staff with the very visible signalman!
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Passing under the footbridge into a very quiet looking Embsay station - possibly the last train of the day? Note the bunting
on the station and the stone flags through the gap by the ticket office and cabman's shelter.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Monckton is seen coming out of Hambleton cutting (I think!) with a passenger train bound for Embsay. The locos have to work
reasonably hard up the gradient from Bolton Abbey, as there is no respite until Skibeden Summit is reached. Driver Colin Davies
leans out of the cab, making the most of the photo!
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Monckton was used to haul Wheldale to Bolton Abbey for display, and several photos were taken along
the way. Here the two Austerities stand side by side in Bolton Abbey station. more photos
(c) Tim Warner.
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Monckton sits at Stoneacre, viewed from the signalbox's garden (unfortunately hiding in the shadow). This could well be the
switching out of the 'box with Monckton having travelled down from Embsay light engine to double head the train back.
(c) William Lister.
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Two shots of Monckton No.1 departing from Bolton Abbey with a 6-coach Santa Special train in 2005.
(c) Steven Oakden.
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Photos of Monckton at the Foxfield Gala 2002
Many thanks to Martin Creese for permission to use these excellent photos on
the website.
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Foxfield-based Hunslet Whiston (which has visited the Embsay in the past)
double-heads a rake of mineral wagons with Monckton No.1.
(c) Martin Creese.
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The pair of Austerities are seen again making progress up the bank, with
evidence of coal being added to their fires.
(c) Martin Creese.
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Slightly further along the line, and looking more relaxed with 12 wagons and a
brake in tow.
(c) Martin Creese.
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Solo effort from Monckton with the mineral wagons.
(c) Martin Creese.
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Very little shows this as being 2002 - it could easily be a lot longer ago...
(c) Martin Creese.
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...as could this, as Monckton passes the photographer, nicely framed by the
tree.
(c) Martin Creese.
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More of the same, as Monckton easily hauls 6 empties and the NCB brakevan.
(c) Martin Creese.
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And yet more! Monckton really looks the part with these mineral wagons - shame
we haven't any...
(c) Martin Creese.
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