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Enthusiast Days 2012
The dates for 2012 are 31st March, 2nd June and 15th September.
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November 2008
SACCHARINE arrives at Statfold
0-4-2T SACCHARINE (Fowler 13355 of 1914) has joined the Statfold fleet. As the name suggests, the loco was originally built for use on a sugar plantation in South Africa. On return to the UK it saw limited use on the Alford Valley Railway near Aberdeen before being stored at the South Tynedale Railway at Alston in preparation for use on the proposed Green Dragon Railway in the Kielder Forest. As that project now seems unlikely to go ahead it has been acquired for the Statfold collection as a representative of the work of one of the Hunslet Engine Company’s Leeds-based competitors and to provide an interesting contrast with Statfold’s contemporary German-built sugar mill locomotives. SACCHARINE is currently dismantled but is expected to be reassembled and enter service during 2009.
September 2008
Another ex-Indonesian Locomotive Steams
The rebuilding and return to service of another of the ex-Indonesian German-built locos, this time SRAGI No. 1 (Krauss 4045 of 1899), was completed in time for the 20th September Enthusiasts’ Day. SRAGI No.1 is Statfold’s oldest loco and has been finished in an attractive light brown livery, a contrast from the blacks, greens and maroons of the rest of the fleet. Here SRAGI No.1 shunts recently arrived Matheran Light Railway 0-6-0T (O&K 2343 of 1907) No. 740 for the benefit of photographers during the Friends’ Day on 18th October.
Statfold Signalling
A Railway Signal Company lower quadrant arm on a lattice post has been installed adjacent to the quarter mile post to protect the approach to Statfold station from the Field Railway. This will improve the protection of shunting movements in the station area while trains are running on the Field Railway.
Local, National and International Charities benefit from SBR Events in 2008
At the Friends’ Day on 18th October Graham Lee and Diane Brown presented cheques with a total value of £7,000 to the four charities chosen to benefit from 2008’s events. Once again our principal charity for 2008 was Railway Children, which received £3,000 towards their work with the street children who gather at railway stations around the world. Responding to a particular local need, £2,000 was presented to Rev. Simon Lumby of St Andrew’s Parish Church in the nearby village of Clifton Campville to assist with the restoration works following the theft of copper sheeting from the church roof. St John Ambulance, who provide first aid cover at Statfold events, and Guide Dogs for the Blind each received £1,000. 
ISSINSYD
An interesting project underway in partnership with Roy Etherington is ISSINSYD, a replica of a 2’0” gauge Lishman & Young compressed air 0-4-0 mine loco as used at the Earl of Durham’s Lambton Collieries towards the end of the 19th century. Before flame-proofed diesel and battery electric locomotives were developed for mining applications compressed air provided a safe form of underground motive power that could be recharged from the same power supply as was used to drive drills and other machinery. 
New Coach Arrives
An impressive new coach arrived just in time for the Friends’ Day. The acquisition of Wilbrighton Wagon Works No.1 follows uncertainty over whether the proposed Green Dragon Railway in the Kielder Forest will now proceed. It is the leading coach in the train headed by BADGER approaching the Statfold home signal.
(All pictures used in this feature © Jeff Cogan, Ken Bull or Mark Hambly)
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