Sandstone pair's UK steam dream is over

[John Ashworth]

Sandstone Pair's UK steam dream is over

The Railway Magazine April 2008 p73

The 2ft gauge Deceauville 0-4-0T 302/1899 Bathala and Kerr Stuart 'Wren' 4031/1919 0-4-0ST Little Bess, owned by the Sandstone Heritage Trust, are to return to South Africa without being steamed.

Bathala came to Britain in late-2006, initially being displayed at Beaulieu Motor Museum and expected to form the motive power on a planned new line at Beaulieu after its boiler had received UK certification.

Last year it was moved to the Statfold Farm Railway, joining Little Bess, newly arrived from South Africa. The pair posed on the SBR 'Field Railway' in a 'freight train' operation during the SBR's September 22 open day (RM Dec). Both were to enter the SBR workshops for boiler work and then, having been issued with UK tickets, were expected to tour British 2ft gauge lines during 2008.

However, after receiving estimates of the cost, Sandstone Heritage Trust opted not to proceed with steaming either loco in Britain. They are presently stored at Statfold Farm pending their owners arranging shipment back to South Africa.