An Old Friend returns to Somerset Metals

By kind permission of our friends at The Watercress Line and the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust who own the locomotive, we are delighted to announce that 0-4-0ST N0. 1788 ’KILMERSDON’ will be steaming at the upcoming Halloween and Santa events in October and December

This R3 class locomotive was built in 1929 by Peckett & Sons and was delivered new to work at Kilmersdon Colliery near Radstock where the loco worked for the majority of its life.

When the colliery closed the NCB placed the locomotive in the care of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Museum Trust and it was moved by road to Radstock in 1973. In 1983 the Trust moved to Washford on the West Somerset Railway where Kilmersdon gave regular shunting displays and the occasional journey along the full length of the line.

In 2021 the Trust moved the loco, which they continue to own, to the Mid Hants Railway where Kilmersdon underwent a complete overhaul at their Ropley facilities and became a family favourite at the railway.

To ride behind this iconic locomotive, you can now book on-line for both the Halloween and Santa at the Station events later this year. Tickets are selling fast – so don’t leave it too late!