|
Cranford No. 2
Cranford No. 2 is an 0-6-0ST Bagnall (No. 2668), and was built in 1942 with 15 inch cylinders. It
was built as one of a batch of six for use in the Ironstone quarries in Northamptonshire and
Oxfordshire. At least three of these locos are in preservation. In industrial service the
locomtive worked for Cranford Ironstone Quarry in Northamptonshire, being their No. 2, as there
was an older locomotive there called Cranford (see below). A good photo
of the loco at work can be found on p.22 in 'Industrial Steam Locomotives' by V. Hall.
When preserved, the locomotive was initially based at Carnforth, and railwaymen there described
it as being very strong and free steaming. The locomotive arrived at the railway having had a
substantial amount of work carried out on it, but problems surfaced as it ran hot on numerous
occasions whilst in traffic, and was very weak. The latter problem was quickly cured, but the
former took a lot longer. Eventually this was traced to being a misalignment of the frames. At
some point in the loco's history at Cranford Ironstone Quarry, it had been involved in an accident
with Cranford (No. 1) where its frames had been knocked an eighth of an inch out of true. Although
this may not seem much, it had a great effect as everything was newly overhauled. This having
been corrected, the locomotive has proved to be very capable of hauling trains on the line, and
has been one of the main engines since 1999, clocking up over 2000 miles each year.
Since then, the loco has needed further work - this time focusing on the boiler, owing to the deterioration of some of the
stays in the firebox (on two occasions). This work was completed promptly, and the locomotive is in service, with a new set
of tubes as well. These problems have stemmed from threaded bar being used at some point in the locomotive's past instead of
proper stays. Consequently these don't flex half as well, and have been known to break. Major firebox work will take place once
the loco is withdrawn for its 10-yearly overhaul at the end of 2005.
In early 2005, Cranford visited the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, hauling the Stately
Trains 6-wheeled carriages for the Gresley celebrations. This provided the unsual spectacle of a complete
'Embsay' train running over one of the major heritage lines! Cranford's intermittent hotboxitus was the only damper on an
otherwise highly successful visit. Upon her return, the lubricator was rebuilt and several leaks cured with great success.
Photos from her time on the Moors can be found at the bottom of the page.
Cranford has left the Railway following its owner's decision to sell her.
More photos of Cranford at Embsay
|
Cranford at Bow Bridge Loop, prior to the engineering work starting which
still sees this section out of use, awaiting the bridge to be recomissioned.
Embsay Junction was located behind the photographer. Embsay village is visible
behind and to the left of the train.
(c) M. G. Riley.
|
|
Same day, Cranford runs around the train at the (then) other end of the line,
Stoneacre Loop. In teh foreground is the groundframe that controls the Embsay
end of the loop. With the signalbox being built, this is redundant.
(c) M. G. Riley.
|
|
Having run round, Cranford waits to depart back to Embsay. In the very
background the works train can be seen beyond the headshunt, protected by a
catch point.
(c) M. G. Riley.
|
|
Late on in the day, Cranford heads back to Embsay running parallel to the A59
(which lies behind the photographer).
(c) William Lister.
|
|
During one of the railway's Vintage
Weekends, Cranford heads back to Embsay (at a very similar location to
the previous photo) with a selection of vans at the end of the day.
(c) Pete Walker.
|
|
Cranford sits in Platform 2 whilst 140 heads out with
a train for Bolton Abbey.
(c) David Umpleby.
|
|
During the 2000 Vintage Weekend, Cranford
double heads out of Bolton Abbey station with 68005
on a passenger train.
(c) William Lister.
|
|
A little while later in the day, Cranford leaves with the GER saloons of the
vintage train.
(c) William Lister.
|
|
Cranford enters Embsay, platform 2, with the GER saloons, probably on the
same day as the above photograph. The Gresley
Restaurant Car is visible in the background.
(c) M. G. Riley.
|
|
Winter 2000, and with some snow still on the ground, Cranford leaves Hambleton
Cutting on the way back to Embsay with the last train of the day.
(c) William Lister.
|
|
Cranford with the goods train during the 2001 Vintage
Weekend. The train has passed under Prior's Lane, and the black and white
striped distant for Stoneacre as it makes its way towards the loop.
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
August 2001 sees Cranford leaving Bolton Abbey station with a passenger train comprising four Mk I's.
(c) Matthew Bell.
|
|
Cranford heads the line-up of engines preparing for one of the Thomas
weekends, along with (r-l) visiting No. 29
and 140 as Thomas.
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
In bright sunlight on a stormy looking December day, Cranford explodes from
Hambleton Cutting with one of the Santa's
Specials bound for Embsay.
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
The post Christmas / pre-New Year P-Way working took place using Cranford to
haul the steam crane. Here, at Stoneacre, the task was to remove the blue
container that had been used to store moaterials for the construction of the
signalbox.
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
Cranford waits patiently, looking every inch as though still in industrial
ownership
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
December 30th, 2001 saw some snow at Embsay as Cranford drew into the station.
A few minutes later and visibility was reduced to almost nothing as the snow
ruined any chance of further photos!
(c) Tim Warner.
|
|
New Year's Day, 2002, with clearer skies and
snow on the ground. Cranford is prepared before the first train of the day
on the coal dock.
(c) Fred Kerr.
|
|
Later on, Cranford is seen at the head of the train, waiting to depart from
Embsay.
(c) Fred Kerr.
|
|
Probably taken at the same time as the previous photo, showing the admiring (and frozen) visitors looking on!
(c) Rob Daniels.
|
|
Cranford sits on the coaldock (formerly the cattle dock), awaiting its next call of duty with the chimney covered and the cab
boarded up. to protect against the elements.
(c) Rob Daniels.
|
|
A closeup showing the mechanical lubricator and the crosshead in front of the front driving wheel.
(c) Rob Daniels.
|
|
May 2003 and Cranford approaches the bracket at Embsay, light engine. Subsequently withdrawn for further attention to a hot
box.
(c) Tom Ireland.
|
|
Cranford stands next to the Lambton van on the coal dock catching the end of the day's sunshine during the end of July. To the
rear sits Mog (68005), and the signal behind that is 'off' as the box is switched out for the DMU service.
(c) Tom Ireland.
|
|
With Annie out for a ten-yearly overhaul, Cranford was chosen to play Percy for the August 2003
Day out with Thomas event. To this end some large magnetic nameplates were acquired, along
with a '6'. Here Cranford / Percy is seen early in the morning before everyone arrived for the popular event.
(c) Tom Ireland.
|
Cranford at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 2005
|
|
|
Cranford raises steam for the day ahead, seen in the company of the yard's 08.
(c) Dave Umpleby.
|
|
|
|
Cranford and the Stately Trains 6-wheelers at Pickering ready to run round before working the shuttle.
(c) Dave Umpleby.
|
|
|
|
Cranford at Pickering on the turntable in the process of being turned for services.
(c) Dave Umpleby.
|
|
|
|
Cranford and the Stately Trains 6-wheelers at Levisham during the shuttle services they were operating on the line. An entire
'Embsay' train seen in more famous company of Green Arrow and Black 5 No.45407.
(c) Dave Umpleby.
|
|
|
|
Having been turned at Pickering, Cranford is seen with the 6-wheelers in the countryside.
(c) Dave Umpleby.
|
|
