14 July 2018 Our Bagnall Saddle tank locomotive, Peter, is 100 years old.
Built in 1918 by William Bagnall of Stafford, Peter (works No. 2067) was originally constructed to 3ft gauge. It was purchased by the Ministry of Munitions for War in December of that year and delivered to the Canadian Forestry Corps at Longtown, Cumberland. After the Great War, Peter returned to Bagnall's works and the boiler, tanks and other working parts transferred onto a 2ft gauge frame. Peter then passed to the Cliffe Hill Granite Co and worked there until 1949 before being taken out of use. Following several changes of ownership the loco finally came to the Narrow Gauge Railway Society, who in turn passed it into the care of the Museum in 1983. By this time, some dismantling had taken place and several parts put into store.
Peter was restored to working order by a team of volunteers at the Museum led by the late Doug Bentley, work which was completed in 1993 and Peter has been a popular attraction at Amberley ever since.
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