D2578 Back to Leeds 4 June 2009

The Hunslet Class 05 homecoming event at the Middleton Railway -
My interest in this engine stems from the fact that it is a more modern example of the five engines that went out to Trinidad in 1956 and 57 to work for the Ste Madeleine Sugar Company.
On June 4th 2009, I attended the Hunslet Class05 Homecoming event in Leeds at the Middleton Railway.
This engine was built at the Hunslet Works in Leeds in 1958 (HE 5460) and sold to British Railways (BR) where it first worked at Thornton Junction shed (62A) until 1967 when it was withdrawn by BR.
The Locomotive was then sold back to Hunslet where it was rebuilt (HE 6999) re entering service on 27th June 1968. Hunslet then sold it to a Cider company, H. P. Bulmers, where it became No 2 at their Hereford works in Herefordshire (not far from where I live in Worcestershire).
The locomotive was named “CIDER QUEEN” by Bulmers on November 13th 1968 - at the opening of Bulmers new rail facility. The loco visited the Middleton Railway in June of 2009 shortly before this video was taken.
Following the visit to Leeds the locomotive was moved back at Moreton Park. I happened to see her on the M5 a few days later and regret not being in a position to photograph her during her move.
The Hunslet Engine Company built 158 of this type of Locomotive between 1955 and 1961. Of these a total of 69 units were sold to, and worked on, the British Railways network. The others all went to a variety of private companies both in Britain and to 8 countries around the world. This includes five units sold to Usine Sainte Madeleine in 1956 and 1957. At the time they epitomised the cutting edge in diesel locomotive technology. The engine is a Gardner 8-cylinder, 4 stroke 8L3 of 204 hp connected to a Hunslet 4-speed gearbox through a Hunslet patent friction clutch. Final drive is via a Hunslet reversing gearbox and jackshaft.
A total of four Class 05’s have been preserved in the United Kingdom as follows; D2554 at the Isle of Wight Railway, D2578 at Moreton Park, D2587 at the Heritage Shunters trust and D2595 at the Ribble Steam Railway.
In Trinidad we have four such Locomotives which are now at risk. The Locomotives in question are D6, D7, D8 (masquerading as D9 which has been scrapped) and D10. These Locomotives were abandoned at the old engine shed at Usine Sainte Madeleine for many years until 2012 when they were moved to Brechin Castle, where they have languished ever since, now awaiting a decision about their future.
It is hard to believe this video was shot almost 12 years ago, only seems like yesterday.
Glen Beadon 9 February 2021

[@saliftrilok6129]

good day sir,very nice videos used to ride does locomotive back in d 60's at brechin castle

[@TRINIDADGUYANAMEMORIES]

WELCOME BACK GLEN,DO YOU HAVE VIDEOS ABOUT THE WOODFORD LODGE SUGAR FACTORY IN CHAGUANAS TRINIDAD.

[@pauljames3699]

Hello Glen.
Many thanks for putting this video onto U-tube. I was the driver of D2578 during its visit to the Middleton Railway and it has brought back some happy memories of that visit.

[@galbeadon]

Hello Paul, thanks for the message, this was a very memorable event for me, especially the cab ride.
Are you still associated with D2578, I would like to film her again, this time with HD equipment. Best wishes, Glen

[@pauljames3699]

@@galbeadon Hello Glen. Yes I'm still involved with the D2578 Loco Group, and the loco is still based at Moreton Park just north of Hereford. (Not at the Middleton Railway as you state above), so you should be able to film her again sometime in the future, although circumstances regarding access to the site at the moment prevent that.

[@galbeadon]

Hi Paul, in the main description for the video I do state that D2578 is based at Moreton Business Park. I live not not far away in Worcestershire so a trip up when the time is right would be great.

[@pauljames3699]

@@galbeadon Hello Glen, the section I was referring to in my previous comment is "A total of four Class 05’s have been preserved in the United Kingdom as follows; D2554 at the Isle of Wight Railway, D2578 at The Middleton Railway, D2587 at the Heritage Shunters trust and D2595 at the Ribble Steam Railway".
I'm not wishing to be piccy, but D2578 has been misquoted as being at a few locations after it was sold by Hunslets in 1968, when in truth it has only ever resided at Bulmers up until 2001, and at Moreton Park since then. The Middleton Railway visit was it's only ever trip out of Herefordshire in the last 43 years.

[@galbeadon]

@@pauljames3699 yes I see what you mean now, well spotted, I will edit and correct that section as soon as possible. You are quite right. Thanks.

[@saliftrilok6129]

why do i remember sitting in d front of d loco motive trowing sand on d tracks,is it for real i was only 6 or 7 yrs of age 55 years ago, my dad was a locomotive driver

[@galbeadon]

Hello Salif, your memory is 100% accurate, the sanders used to sit on the front of the engine to release sand on the lines, especially during wet weather or early in the morning. The locos used to slip when loaded under such conditions. The sand came from two metal boxes, fixed on the front of the engines. I'm surprised that your parents let you have a go at sanding the lines as it was a dangerous practice. A few cane workers lost their lives in this way.