New motive power for the summer season - 4127 "Sid" is a very unusual German ‘Maffei’ steam locomotive.

The 0-4-0WT has travelled quite some considerable distance too, having initially started life working in Europe, where we believe it suffered shell damage during World War 2. It then went into preservation in the USA, before being shipped to Sweden for restoration. After several years it came back up for overhaul and was then purchased and shipped to the UK. Overhaul and restoration was carried out in Kent, and completed at the L&BR in North Devon.



Sid entered passenger service on the railway in August 2007, having been outshopped in an early 1900s L&B livery. The name "Sid" follows in a long tradition, going back to the opening of the original L&B, of naming steam locomtoives after Devon 3-letter rivers.

This locomotive is owned by a consortium of railway members and is currently acting as the main locomotive for steam traction on the railway.