Triassic Peckett 1270 current B.L.Rly fleet

Built 1911

Triassic 0-6-0ST, works no. 1270 was built by Peckett & Sons of Bristol in 1911 and delivered to
Kay & Co. Lime and Cement Works, Little Itchington, near Southam, Warwickshire. The loco spent all of its industrial life at the works.
 

Brief view of Triassic starting off from Bala at the Society's 25th Gala 1999

 

Triassic at Kay & Co early 1950's - authors collection
Triassic at Kay & Co early 1950's - authors collection

Narrow Gauge Industrial Network

Kay & Co had an extensive 2ft gauge rail network around their quarry and works and a fleet of six identical Peckett locomotives, one Bagnall and one petrol locomotive. Five of the Pecketts were named after types of rock and the sixth was cheekily named after its regular driver!

 

Builder Type Number Built Name Current Status
Peckett 0-6-0ST 1008 1903 Jurassic Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway
Peckett 0-6-0ST unknown 1906 Neozoicv Scrapped 1943
Peckett 0-6-0ST unknown 1909 Liassic Scrapped 1943
Peckett 0-6-0ST 1279 1911 Trissiac Bala Lake Railway
Peckett 0-6-0ST 1327 1913 Mesozoic Bromyard NG Railway, Herefordshire
Peckett 0-6-0ST 1632 1923 Vicozoic* Shipped to Canada in 1959
Bagnall 0-4-0T unknown unknown unknown** Unknown
Unknown 0-4-0 Petrol unknown unknown unknown*** unknown

 

* Originally not named but christened after the name of its regular driver. Later given the nameplate off Liassic, which had been scrapped in 1943.

 

** Details are sketchy about this loco. It was kept os the spare, in steam, locomotive in case any of the Peckett's failed. The Bagnall was not a favourite of regular Peckett drivers.

 

*** Loco of unknown make (believed to be ex-War Department, ex-WWI, used to access areas the steamers could not get to.

 

Kay & Co. went bankrupt in 1931-2 and the quarry and works were closed down but luckily none of the equipment was dispersed from the site.

 

Just before the start of WWII, the business was purchased by Rugby Portland Cement Co who reopened the works and the internal 2ft gauge railway. Eventually the new company became Rugby Group plc and they are still working at the same site, though now without the railway.

Standard Gauge Cionnection

The Little Itchington works were connected to the standard gauge rail network by a link onto the London & North Western's Leamington Spa - Daventry - Weedon line at Long Itchington and it was by this means that large consignments of their products left the works. Rugby Cement tankers used to be a regular sight on the British Railway network.

 

Today all the railway work has been replaced by internal combustion powered machines and trucks.

Pioneer of Preservation

Although four of the Pecketts made it into preservation, only one Triassic can claim the title of industrial railway locomotive pioneer of preservation. Triassic was sold to J.B.Latham in 1957 who moved the loco to his home at Woking.

 

Triassic at Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway - authors collection
Triassic at Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway - authors collection

 

Triassic ran on the pleasure line at Knebworth House between 1972 and the late 1980's and later on the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway before moving to Bala in 1992.

J.B. Latham

Mr Latham was a author of railway articles and books including:
  • The Story Of McAlpine Steam Locomotives
  • The Locomotives of Croydon Gas & Electricity Works
  • Haydock Collieries - their Locomotives and Railways
  • Railways & Preservation (inc. the Penrhyn Castle story)
 
 
 
In addition to saving Triassic, Mr Latham took the 2ft gauge heavy Hunslet Lilla (from the Penrhyn Quarry) and the 3ft 2.25inch gauge, 1880 vintage Fletcher Jennings built number 173L William Farley (ex- Dorking Greystone & Lime Co Ltd, Betchworth, Surrey) into preservation.

 

Lilla was once with us on the Bala Lake Railway and William Farley is understood to be at Woking in the care of Bryce Latham (J.B's son).

Moved to Bala Lake Railway

Triassic arrived at the Bala Lake Railway on 18th June 1992 along with Lilla and both were initially to stay until the end of that year. Both locos did appear, but not in steam due to insurance restrictions, at the 1992 June Gala.

 

The two engines were steamed regularly during the rest of 1992 and both travelled to the bottom of the bank at various times. However, neither loco was used on service trains because it was found Lilla was found to be too heavy and too wide for our lines construction and Triassic because it lacked a steam brake and mechanical lubricator.

 

Triassic with shuttle train 1992 - copyright John Harrison
Triassic with shuttle train 1992 - copyright John Harrison

 

To make the most of the engines visit, an additional low-key Gala weekend was added on 3rd and 4th of October when all 4 of the steam engines would be in use - Maid Marian & Holy War on the passenger trains and Triassic & Lilla on yard shuttles. Triassic also worked on a demonstration Llanuwchllyn - Bala return goods train. (I seem to remember that was a very enjoyable weekend.)

 

During the 1992/3 winter an agreement was made between J.B Latham and the railway for Triassic to stay at Bala for 3 years. In the January work got underway to remedy some of the problems with Triassic by adding a mechanical lubricator, a steam brake and the loco was piped for air brakes to allow it to work with our service trains.

Additional work was also carried out on the motion and bearings with the left hand side being completed by the 1993 June Gala/21st Anniversary celebrations when the loco was reassembled and confined to light duties.

 

Triassic on light duties around Llanuwchllyn station - authors collection
Triassic on light duties around Llanuwchllyn station - authors collection

 

Work continued on the loco through the winter of 1993/4 and Triassic finally entered service for the 1994 season and was used at various times throughout that year.

 

In Spring 1995, the railway came to a new agreement with J.B. Latham and new pistons were ordered for the loco. The engine had been taken out of service again for more remdial work, which continued through 1996 into 1997, when Triassic entered service once again.

Triassic Passed to Bryce Latham

In May 1998 J.B. Latham took the loco to the Ffestiniog Railway for a 4 week stay. The loco was used on drive-an-engine duties at Boston Lodge.

 

Unfortunately, Mr Latham died whilst the loco was at the FR and it was not until Triassic passed to Bryce Latham (son) with the rest of the estate in September that the loco was returned to Bala.

1999 Gala

Triassic was one of the stars of the event described by much of the UK railway press as "the mainland narrow gauge event of the year"! The 1999 Gala featured four visiting locos, visiting brake van and extensive train services over 2 days with Triassic hauling revenue earning passenger trains and demonstration goods services.

 

Triassic, with passenger train entering Llangower loop to pass Alice with demo goods train, 1999 Gala - copyright Ben Abbott|
Triassic, with passenger train entering Llangower loop to pass Alice with demo goods train, 1999 Gala copyright Ben Abbott

 

At the end of 1999, Triassic was once again out of service, waiting a decision onits 10-year overhaul and boiler lift.

 

In 2001, Triassic was loaned to the National Railway Museum, York for a display about the early days of preservation and left Llanuwchllyn late April, returning in September.

New Future Agreed

In 2003, the railway signed a new agreement with Bryce Latham for the loco to be used at Bala for 5 years after completion of the steam test after completion of the 10-year overhaul. That overhaul is now underway and is reflected in a follow-up article. It is hoped that Triassic will be fully restored to working condition in the near future.

 

Photo Gallery:Triassic Collection 
Last Updated on Thursday, 15 April 2010 17:14