Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association
The charitable arm of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
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Hudswell Clarke - No. 102 'Cathryn' - Restoration
The Association’s third steam locomotive “Cathryn” has recently been returned to traffic following its restoration and is on loan to Peak Rail where it is in regular use in operating their passenger services, where it will remain until Spring 2025.
The Association would like to thank all those EVR volunteers who have contributed to its restoration over the years especially to Bob G and Paul M, and to volunteers at Peak Rail, following Bob's and Paul's retirement, during its final phase of restoration
Photo credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo Credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo Credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo Credit: Nathan Cooke
Photo credit: Nathan Cooke
History
First designed for the Port of London Authority in 1915, this class of engine continued in production at Hudswell and Clarke of Leeds until the end of steam locomotive production there. This example, number S102 (works number 1884/55), named Cathryn, was purchased in 1944 for work at Newmarket Colliery, Stanley, Wakefield, where it worked, except for occasional repairs at the central workshops (NCB Allerton Bywater) until 1969, with its sister locomotive S103 1864/52.
After repairs, it was then drafted to St Johns Colliery, Wakefield and it alternated between there and Park Hill Colliery, Wakefield, until the end of its working life in March 1977. It has been in store at S. Harrison, Tinsley; then the South Yorks Preservation Society at Penistone and Meadowhall; and the Elsecar Steam Railway, prior to coming to the EVR.
A number of these locomotives were converted by the NCB to the gas production system which entailed them being provided with underfeed stokers, and this also required the conversion of the funnel to a characteristic conical design which Cathryn now has.
The "Railway Executive" plate which can be seen on the tank sides is a license plate which indicates that the locomotive is authorised for mainline working: so it is very likely that one of the collieries at which Cathryn worked had mainline exchange sidings which required her to make short journeys onto the mainline to despatch or collect wagons. The principal livery of these small, powerful engines was a handsomely lined maroon. Though powerful, the class was not renowned for the smoothness of operation.
There are others in operation on other heritage railways.