Locomotive No.5 - RUDYARD LADY

No.5 Rudyard Lady is a Bo-Bo type diesel engined locomotive. It has a Perkins 3 cylinder diesel engine linked by a four speed gearbox to the wheels. The clutch uses standard car parts and drive to the rear bogie wheels is by chain.

 

The engine is probably the largest diesel locomotive on this gauge of track with seats for two and space for 3 in the cab. Built by a local engineer., Mr. L. A. Smith from Leek. It has a generator providing 3KW power at both 110 & 220 volts. Its therefore ideal for track work.

 

Rudyard Lady in its new yellow colours at Rudyard station

 

Now used mainly for works trains it was originally often used on passenger trains.

More views and information on other steam locomotives and trains linked to this railway are on the locomotives pages.

Developments

The main improvement to the engine was servicing of the engine by Dave Cruikshank from Middlewich. Originally fitted with a single pipe skid type air brake it now has the standard two pipe system with a brake cylinder applying the brakes to the front bogie. Its capable of pulling passenger trains but rarely used due to the reliability of the steam engines

.No.5 Rudyard Lady on a works train in 2001

Rudyard Lady is seen in 2001 on a works train

A repaint into a variation of Union Pacific type livery was done in 2007. This replaced the drab green colour scheme it has previously had. It may be renamed Lady of the Lake at some point in the future.