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Peter is 100 ... So ... cake!

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.


The breeze played havoc with the balloons so this was the best we managed - still a bit wayward.


The birthday cake was provided and iced by railway volunteer Ann Fisher (actually there were two cakes as we staged a repeat performance on Sunday!). We decided against candles because, well, global warming.


Our retiring model railway exhibition manager, Simon King, was persuaded to do the honours with the knife and very expertly, cut the cake in half being very careful not to damage the historic stone block on which it was placed
(well, the Curator was watching!).


Thank you for all your hard work, Simon.



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© Gerry Cork & Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre