Hudswell-Clarke 6LW Diesel Locomotive

the engine, frame, radiator and wheelsets are seen rusty and without any bodywork

Hudswell-Clarke 6LW in July 1996, shortly after restoration commenced.

young man standing on the loco with cleaning spray

Hudswell-Clarke 6LW undergoing steam cleaning.

front view of the loco in its shed with grey undercoat on its unfinished bodywork

Construction of the new bodywork in progress.

still quite unfinished

Further progress, March 2000.

paintwork and bodywork still incomplete

Further progress, 2002.

now painted red, but still with unfinished bodywork

6LW on display at the Anniversary Gala, 2004.

This locomotive is an ex-mines loco of Hudswell Clarke manufacture. It has six coupled wheels, is eighteen feet long and weighs in at fifteen tons. The engine is a six cylinder Gardner, rated at 100 HP, maximum revolutions of 1750 rpm.

It last worked at Vane Tempest colliery where it was used for training drivers. When the colliery closed it was bought by A. Belshaw and taken to the South Tynedale Railway, along with three other locos.

It was purchased by its present owner and arrived at Pen-y-Mount in June 1996. Then it was stripped down to frames, engine and gearbox, steam cleaned, and the old paint removed. Several coats of new paint, were applied to the frames, wheels, engine and gearbox.

A new engine cover and cab were constructed. But by this time the owner had decided he would prefer to operate his locomotive elsewhere, so it left the railway.

Specifications

Builder Huwood Hudswell
Built 1961
Works number 1247
Type 6LW
Wheel arrangement 6 coupled
Driving wheel diameter 2' 2½" 673
Engine 100 h.p. 75kW
Transmission Fluid coupling, 'Powerflow' gearbox
Final drive jackshaft
Tractive Effort 8500 pounds approx. 37.8kN
Weight 15 tons
Maximum axle load 5 tons
Arrived W.H.R. Early 1996
Owners W.H.R. Member
Previous owners Vane Tempest colliery

See Also