5459 Austin 1

Above: 5459 heads for Berwyn, the limit of operations at the time, with a passenger train in 1988. (Dave Southern)

This locomotive was built by Kitsons of Leeds as works number 5459 in 1932. It was delivered new to the Austin Motor Company at their Longbridge works in the West Midlands where it was known as Austin 1. The locomotive was purchased by Burtonwood Brewery in November 1973 on behalf of the Flint and Deeside Railway Society, and was stored behind the Nant Hotel in Prestatyn until the Society moved to Llangollen in 1975. The locomotive was named Burtonwood Brewer in honour of the brewery, who paid for restoration and fitting of vacuum brake gear required for working passenger trains.

Above: A trial steaming of Burtonwood Brewer in Llangollen station after re-tubing. (Bill Shakespeare)

When the Railway re-opened in 1981 it was the only locomotive available for operating passenger services until the arrival of 'Jinty' 47298 in 1983. It provided much of the motive power for the Railway's early years, although its small water capacity and limited power made operation to Glyndyfrdwy and beyond a struggle.

During 1994 and 1995 it was hired to the North Staffordshire Railway (now Churnet Valley Railway), and then to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway during 1996 and 1997. Its ten-year overhaul fell due in 1997, and to enable this to proceed, the Llangollen Railway Trust took on ownership from Burtonwood Brewery in 1998. It has since reverted to its original name Austin No. 1. It was stripped down for major repairs, including work on the motion and welding on the boiler. Since the rebuild was completed in late 2000, it has been available for hire, going to Chinnor for 2001 and part of the 2002 season. It has also spent an extended period on the Lavender Line.

Above: Running with the two ex-King's Cross suburbans and a 'Toad' brake van, 5459 Burtonwood Brewer hauls our first ever passenger train. (Bill Shakespeare)

Shed Allocations

Longbridge

1932

Withdrawn

?

Nant Hall Hotel, Prestatyn

16/11/1973

Llangollen

11/9/1975

Above: 5459 at Chinnor on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway on 3rd June 2001. (Simon Purbrick)

Principal Dimensions

Wheel arrangement

0-6-0ST

Nominal tractive effort

? lbs

Weight

? tons

Wheel diameter

?"

Cylinders

Two ?" x ?"

Boiler pressure

?psi

Valve gear

?

Last updated 12th December 2007 by  John Rutter

Austin 1 back from the Lavender Line seen in Llangollen Yard ready for boiler repairs 7th November 2007

Picture - George Jones

Austin 1 shunted temporarily on to the reception road behind a skip filled with its removed boiler tubes. 25th November 2007

Photo - John Rutter