PRESERVATION history was made at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway (BKR) in early November when two of only three preserved Caledonian Railway locomotives were united for the first time in steam and on a complete ‘Caley’ train.
The BKR’s Caledonian Reunion gala on November 2-4 provided the perfect welcome for its freshly overhauled John F McIntosh-designed ‘439’ class 0-4-4T No. 419 back into traffic.
A decade had elapsed since the St Rollox-built loco had last worked a train over BKR metals, and it certainly made an impact in its newly applied bright Caledonian livery.
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However, why have one ‘Caley’ loco when you can have two? And what better way to celebrate No. 419’s return than with a first-time meeting with fellow McIntosh loco – ‘812’ class 0-6-0 No. 828, courtesy of the Strathspey Railway.
Not only was this No. 419’s first preservation meeting with the 1899-built No. 828, but was in fact the first pairing of any two operational ‘Caley’ locos in the post-BR era. It will also offer the first opportunity to match No. 828 with appropriate Caledonian Railway-liveried rolling stock since the Grouping.
Read more in the December issue of The RM – on sale now!
