Beamish Purchases Dunrobin!
17th December 2010
We are delighted to announce that after over 12 months of work and discussion we have agreed to purchase Dunrobin, the Sharp Stewart 0-4-4T built in 1895 for the Duke of Sutherland to use to haul his private train over Highland Railway lines (of which company he was a director). The engine was based at Dunrobin Castle in its own shed. A four wheel carriage (No.58A – the day saloon) was also based there and is also coming to Beamish as part of the deal. A bogie coach used by the Duke is preserved as part of the NRM collection and will be on display at the Scottish Railway Museum, Bo’ness, shortly.
The engine was used until 1920 (though this information has still to be confirmed). In 1950 is was steamed 745 miles, along with 58A, from Dunrobin to New Romney for display alongside the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Photographs show it en route in March 1950. In 1965 the engine and coach was purchased by a Canadian businessman for inclusion in a museum he proposed in British Columbia. Shortly after arrival in Canada, the pair were sold for $15,000 to the B.C. government, finding their way to Fort Steele, an open air museum which features a working railway.
Dunrobin was used intermittently, also visiting other fairs and events, including Sacramento in 1991 when it met our Locomotion No.1, last being steamed in 2005. In Canada it has been fitted with an air pump, steam generator and a buckeye coupling. It was deemed surplus to requirements and after a chance visit by railway journalist Tony Streeter, it came to Beamish’s attention that a sale might be possible.
The need for our own steam locomotive to operate at Rowley has been well demonstrated this season, with the variety of engines hired in costing both in terms of hire fees and haulage. We will have the Y7 next year and Dunrobin will be overhauled to come in alongside this in due course. The overhaul programme will be determined once the engine has been brought back to Beamish, a long journey for such an elderly machine! Whilst it is not of North Eastern origin, it will fit in well with its high-Victorian appearance.
The engine has had some distinguished patrons – the cab having seen figures including King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, King Alfonso of Spain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Winston Churchill – though obviously not all at the same time! These figures reflect the Duke of Sutherland’s position in politics and explain his desire to have his own private train.
So, what next? We need to go out and prepare Dunrobin and 58A for shipping, and then bring them back, probably next spring. I’d like to have them on display at the GNSF but we shall see if we can make that date. A survey will then be carried out on the boiler, we’ll have a look at the loco mechanically then take it from there.
In the meantime, here are some photographs courtesy of Bob Whethman.
This is fantastic news! Congratulations on bringing this together. I remember seeing both engine and carriage in BC about 10 years ago, looking a wee bit sorry for themselves. Looking forward to seeing them back in the UK in the near future. best regards from Sweden
I was forwarded an announcement of the sale on a local news website. Glad to hear the Dunrobin is going somewhere it will be useful and get the attention it deserves. The last time I saw it was about 25 years ago in a corner of the shed behind it in the photo. A good move for both Beamish and Fort Steele.
This must have been the locomotive and carriage I saw passing through Winnipeg, MB this afternoon on a CN freight train.
I remember seeing Dunrobin at the RHDR sidings in 1952 and heard that it was still running in Canada.
I had no idea that it was coming home but am very pleased and look forward to seeing it in steam at Beamish 2013