Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd No. 2451 ‘Axe’

Axe handles the majority of passenger services on the railway and is owned by all the members of the L&B Trust.  She was the first of the five Joffre Class locos in the UK to return to operational steam.  Her chimney was a gift to the Trust by life-long narrow gauge enthusiast the late Colin Pealling and originally adorned Sgt Murphy Kerr Stuart No. 3117 of 1918.

Axe awaits - Ian Sharp

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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.

Below is a photo taken in 1963 by Mr D. Trevor Rowe of two of the Joffre’s at the stone quarry at Marquise Rinxent, Pas de Calais - With thanks to the Moseley Trust

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 Gloddfa Ganol, Blaenau Ffestiniog where 2442, 3010 and 3014 were given a coat of paint. whilst 2451 remained unpainted - see photo below.

Purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in 1983 and christened Axe in line with the L&B’s policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers. Members laboured for many years to restore the engine before it was eventually transferred to the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe in Somerset to complete the work professionally. 

Axe first steamed at the railway as part of her dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Exeter on November 11th 2008.  With eventual completion in January 2009,  she arrived back at the railway for steam trials and hauled her first revenue earning passenger service on March 1st 2009.

 For more details visit the Axe Project page HERE

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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

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Other Joffre Survivors

2405 - Gradually being restored to original condition at the West Lancashire Light Railway, Hesketh Bank .
2442 - Teifi Valley Railway in South Wales awaiting funds
3010 - Yaxham Light Railway, Dereham, Norfolk as of August 2010 it remains in untouched ex Gloddfa Ganol condition.
3014 - Moseley Trust, Apedale, Staffordshire - almost completely restored to original condition and now back in steam.