River Mite

River Mite

River Mite

When the railway was purchased in 1960, there were only two steam locos – River Esk and River Irt. The Preservation Society decided to raise funds for the new-build of a third steam loco. To commission a brand new locomotive during the time of the demise of steam on British Railways, was quite a leap of faith by the Preservation Society. An agreement was concluded with the Company whereby they would hire the locomotive (for a nominal fee) and deal with day to day maintenance and items like insurance, the Society covering major overhauls.

River Mite Delivery
River Mite being delivered to Ravenglass 3rd December 1966 - photograph by the Stafford family
River Mite being delivered to Ravenglass 3rd December 1966 - photograph by the Stafford family

In 1964, the Preservation Society placed an order for River Mite at Clarkson’s in York, with the boiler to be built by Gower's of Bedford. In order to complete the tender, the frames from the old Poultney steam tender from the Railway Company’s River Esk were used.

Built at a cost of about £8,000 (at least £160K at 2021 values), history was made when the loco was delivered by the steam traction engine Providence on 3 December 1966. River Mite was officially named by Alderman T. Westoll, Chairman of Cumberland County Council, and entered service on 20 May 1967. There were teething troubles but the loco soon settled to down to become the Society’s ‘flagship’ and has been an integral part of the railway's steam locomotive fleet ever since.

Recreating the 1966 delivery of River Mite to Ravenglass by the steam traction engine, Providence at the Beamish Great North Steam Fair, April 2017

The locomotive has a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement, is painted in Furness Indian red and is 22' 6" long.

River Mite's Naming Ceremony
River Mite's Naming Ceremony, performed by Alderman T. Westoll, Chairman of Cumberland County Council, 20th May 1967 - photograph by Dai Pickup

The name was earlier held by a 4-6-6-4 articulated loco built at Ravenglass in 1928 from earlier locos, but which was scrapped in 1939.

In 2020, River Mite had a major overhaul, costing in total £113,000, all funded by donations and memberships of the Society. This significant expenditure included a new tender, fitting air brakes to the locomotive, fitting lagging to the boiler and backhead, and amending the cab metalwork to remove the "hat" that sat over the manifold at the top and the cab and creating a taller cab.

If you would like to donate to help maintain River Mite and contribute to future overhauls, you can do so by donating to our Steam Locomotive Maintenance fund. https://rerps.co.uk/donate/

July 2021 - Rededication of River Mite
Following its recent major overhaul, River Mite was rededicated in July 2021 during the "It's Still A Lot of Fun" gala celebrating 60 years of preservation of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Photograph by Sam Dixon

Visiting Other Railways

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Kent: 4 – 5 October 1980
Midlands Model Engineering and Hobbies Exhibition, Birmingham, November 1980
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Kent: 2 – 11-13 May 1997
Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk: 1994
Dresden, Germany: 3-4 October 1998
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Kent: 3 – 10-11 May.2003
Kirklees Light Railway, West Yorkshire: 12-13 Sept 2015
Beamish Museum, County Durham: 6-9 April 2017
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Kent: – 11-12 May 2018