Whillan Beck (The Train from Spain)
The ‘Train from Spain’ (or perhaps more accurately ‘The Krauss from Catalonia’!), was built in Germany for an exposition in Spain.
The loco (Pinta, 8457) only ran for a few years (1929 to 1932) and was then abandoned.
No. 8457 is unusual amongst 15” gauge locomotives in that it belongs to a class of fifteen (largely) identical locomotives, designed by Roland Martens and built by Krauss of Munich between 1925 and 1950, in addition to three similar locomotives constructed by Krupp of Essen in 1937.
Early this century, a small team of enthusiasts near Barcelona started to restore the loco, but decided to sell it. The Preservation Society expressed interest in the loco and bought 8457 in December 2015.
The "Train from Spain" project started in 2016 when the loco started on its journey to Cumbria.
The work to get the loco fit for service was carried out in a series of phases by John Fowler Engineering (JFE), at Old Hall Farm, Bouth, Cumbria. Phase 1 was initial works to get the locomotive moving under its own steam. Initial trials were then carried out to see how the locomotive performed. Phase 2 of the engineering works were to bring the locomotive into operational state. Further testing was then carried out to accept the locomotive into service.
Society members were asked to suggest names and livery for this new loco and, following voting, the name ‘Whillan Beck’ was chosen, with Caledonian Blue livery. The name continues the river theme; the Whillan Beck flows through Boot village, and under the railway line as it enters Dalegarth Station. The beck joins the River Esk, which then combines with the River Mite and River Irt at the estuary in Ravenglass before flowing out to sea.
The completed Train from Spain was delivered to Ravenglass on 21st November 2017.
The locomotive was commissioned and entered service on 17 March 2018. It was officially named on 5 May 2018.
Whillan Beck won the 2019 Heritage Railway Association’s prestigious Coiley Locomotive Engineering Award for the best locomotive project of 2018. Details of the award and photographs of the event can be found on the Heritage Railway Association's website at: https://www.hra.uk.com/2019-hra-awards
Whillan Beck is loaned to the Company under the same arrangements as River Mite.
The total expenditure on The Train from Spain project was £300,000, including the purchase price of £200,000.
Significant maintenance and future overhauls of Whillan Beck are funded by membership and donations to the Society. If you would like to donate to help maintain Whillan Beck and contribute to future overhauls, you can do so by donating to our Steam Locomotive Maintenance fund. https://rerps.co.uk/donate/
Sponsored and Donated Components
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society thank everyone who financially contribution to, what is now, Whillan Beck.
Sponsored and Donated Components
History of Whillan Beck
To read about the history of Whillan Beck, click the link below.
Train from Spain YouTube Channel
Visiting Other Railways
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Kent: 7-14 May 2019
Beamish Museum, County Durham: 9-10 April 2022