History of Number 11
This locomotive was built in 1905 as works No. 1047 at the Caledonia Works in Kilmarnock, by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co., and spent most of its life hauling ironstone out of opencast quarries.
It was delivered new to the Cargo Fleet Iron Company at Cargo Fleet, near Middlesborough. When this company was taken over by the South Durham Iron and Steel Company in 1922, they transferred the locomotive to their Irchester Quarry in Northamptonshire near Wellingborough. Between arrival at Irchester and 1930 some time was spent at Desborough Ironstone Quarry, also in Northamptonshire. After its return to Irchester, and a further nineteen years service, it was rebuilt in the quarry workshops. It worked there until 1949 when it was moved to Storefield Ironstone Quarry Northants, until dieselisation in 1968.
It was saved from the scrap man, by R.J. Robinson who bought it from Stewart & Loyds LTD in 1969, who took the engine to a farm near Royston, Herts. In November 1973 the engine was moved to the Stour Valley Railway (now The East Anglian Railway Museum) at Chappel & Wakes Colne, where it has undergone extensive restoration which is now nearing completion.
This locomotive was steam tested for the first time since 1968 on Sunday 27th June 1999.
The locomotive is currently out of service for its 10 year boiler exam, but hopfully will be back in service in late 2007