BAGNALL ‘AUSTERITY’ 0 ‐ 6‐0ST ‘The Duke’ hauled its first public passenger trains in nearly a quarter of a century at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway over New Year.
The 1944-built locomotive (Works No. 2746) made its debut at the EVR’s ‘Winter Steam in the Valley’ gala on December 31/January 1, just days after passing its steam test and returning to traffic for the first time since 2000. The NCB red saddle tank was arguably the star of the show at the gala, despite sharing the limelight with a pair of BR Standards: visiting ‘2MT’ 2 ‐ 6‐0 No. 78018 from the Great Central Railway, and ‘4MT’ 2 ‐ 6‐4T No. 80080, on long-term loan to the EVR from the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust at the Midland Railway – Butterley. No. 78018 had been based at the EVR since November, having been hired in to help haul the Derbyshire line’s festive services; it last ran at the EVR in 2019. The gala had also been expected to feature Andrew Barclay 0 ‐ 4‐0ST Works No. 2360 ‘Brian Harrison’, but the locomotive was unable to participate owing to a mechanical problem. The line-up was completed by a pair of diesels, Class 14 No. D9537 and Class 31 No. 31601.
