Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust

Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust
A level crossing on the railway
Commercial operations
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Length	1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust operates a 1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) long heritage railway line at Hunsbury Hill, south-west of Northampton. The line is mainly dedicated to freight working, featuring many sharp curves and steep gradients which were typical of the industrial railway, but rides are available in a variety of vehicles including a converted brake van.

Restoration

In the last few years the site has undergone restoration with 1⁄4 mile (0.4 km) of line being regraded and relaid in 113 lb/yd (56.1 kg/m) rail and concrete sleepers, along with the restoration of 2 locomotives and brake van to enable passenger carrying as well as other restoration projects being undertaken. Operationally the railway has received full operating clearance from the HMRI to allow running on the relaid section of the 1st quarter of the mile of the route.

Locomotives

Steam

• "Belvedere" Sentinel geared vertical boilered tank engine No. 9365. Built in 1946. On static display.
• "Musketeer" Sentinel geared vertical boilered tank engine No. 6369. Built in 1946. On Static Display.
• Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2130. Built in 1951. Operational, returned to steam in 2016 at the Battlefield Line Railway and moved to NIRT in 2020.

Diesel

• Planet 4wDH. No. 3967 - Operational.
• No. 2087 Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0DM Built 1940. Undergoing restoration.
• Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0 No. D697 Built 1950. Undergoing restoration.
• Ruston & Hornsby 88DS 4wDM No. 242858. Built in 1946 - Awaiting restoration.
• Fowler 0-4-0DH No. 4220001 "Charles Wake" built in 1959 – Operational.
• Fowler 0-4-0DE No. 4200016 "Flying Falcon". Built in 1962 - Undergoing overhaul

  

  Fowler 4220001

• Fowler 0-4-0DH No. 4220022. Built in 1947 - Undergoing restoration.
• BR Class 02 - Diesel Hydraulic No. D2867. Built 1960-61, arrived June 2023, overhauled and repainted during the summer 2023, operational.

Former Locomotives

• "Waleswood" Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST No. 750. Built in 1906. The locomotive was completely overhauled at the railway until 2019, when it left the railway on 1 September for the Chasewater Railway.
• Ruston & Hornsby 88DS 4wDM No. 394014. Built in 1956 - Departed January 2023.

Rolling stock

• B950061 20-ton LMS (BR-built) brake van – operational. Built in 1950 to an LMS design.
• B490310 12-ton LNER (BR-built) open wagon. Built in 1952.
• M407942 12-ton LMS open wagon. Built in 1937.
• 321734 Ex Ruston "88" underframe - named 'Mabel'
• No. 330 Nordberg trackmachine
• Joseph Booth steam crane
• S56134 SR pillbox brake van
• BR86803 BR GUV Mk1 converted to crane runner wagon

Multiple units

Electric

• BR Class 411 4CEP TSO nos. 70284, 70296 and 70510
• BR Class 415 4EPB unit 5176 last surviving unrefurbished unit - reformed as 3EPB, Built in 1954.

  

  4EPB 5176

• BR Class 422 4BIG TRSB 69304 unit 2260
• BR Class 4DD DMBC no. 13004 (formerly of unit 4002 later renumbered 4902 owing to the number 4002 being reallocated to the second British Rail Class 445) BR Green. Built in 1949. Departed May 2023

4DD DMBC 13004

External links

• [see face book nirt]
• Northamptonshire Ironstone railway trust