Axe is owned by the L&B Trust and handles the majority of passenger services on the railway.  Axe is also the only Joffre Class loco currently in steam in the UK.

History

Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd No. 2451 was built at Stoke-on-Trent in 1915. A side and well tank locomotive, it was one of seventy 60cm gauge "Joffre" Class (named after the French First World War Commander) ordered by the French government for service on the Western Front.

Around 1956, 2451 along with four sister locos, was found lying derelict by British enthusiasts at Rinxent about 12 miles from Calais, having been out of service for almost ten years.

In 1974 all five locos - thought to be the only survivors of the class - were repatriated to the UK. No. 2405 went to the West Lancashire Light Railway near Southport. The others including 2451 by 1976 were stored at the Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry Museum in North Wales and later in 1978 at Blaenau Ffestiniog where 2442, 3010 and 3014 were cosmetically restored, but 2451 remained unpainted.

Currently, 2405 is being restored to original condition, and due to be steamed during 2009. 2442 is at the Tefi Valley Railway in South Wales, 3010 is at Dereham in Norfolk and 3014 is at Apedale, Staffordshire.  

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Kerr Stuart No 2451 was Purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in 1983 and following the original L&BR’s policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers, christened Axe.

Members laboured for many years to restore the engine before it was eventually transfered to the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe in Somerset to complete the work professionally.

Axe first visited the railway in steam for a dedication ceremony in November 2008.  Finally completed in January 2009, it arrived back at the railway for steam trials. It hauled its first revenue earning passenger service on March 1st 2009.

‘Axe’ - Vital Statistics

Length: 15’ 6 1/8"
Height: 8’ 6 1/4"
Width: 5’ 3 3/4"
Tractive Effort: 3,862 lb
Gauge: 1’ 11 5/8" (600 mm)
Cylinders: 8 1/2" dia. x 11" stroke
Valve Gear: Walshaerts
Wheel Dia.: 1’ 11 5/8"
Wheelbase: 4’ 7 1/8"
Water Capacity: Well and Side Tanks: 264 gallons
Coal Capacity: 10 cwt
Weight: (empty) 8T 4 cwt
Weight: (working order) 10T 8 cwt