The Wasp
Rudyard Lake Railway
Our oldest engine!
The Wasp was orginally built in 1961 by Sir Thomas Salt of Shillingstone.
Sir Thomas Salt, built a 10.25″ railway around his estate to serve his Pig Farm around 1954, all because one faithful day, he got his tractor, his neighbours tractor and his neighbours neighbours tractor stuck in the mud!
As with all small railways, it doesnt take long before people start knocking on the door asking for a ride! Sir Thomas, started to get fed up dragging the carriages/wagons out of storage to just give the odd one or two people a ride. So he came up with an idea to build a 4 man inspection trolley loosey based on a Inspection Trolley at the 2ft 6″ gauge Welshpool Railway.
The Wasp, has 4 seats and is powered by a Villiers 9E Petrol engine/Gearbox out of a Bond Minicar
It was recorded that a ride on “The Wasp” was one never forgotten, with Sir Thomas often driving her (and i qoute) “with great verve”.
On Sir Thomas Salts death, his railway and locos (including The Wasp) where sold at Auction in 1975.
The Wasp then made her way to the Private, Brightwalton Light Railway, were she was regauged to the smaller gauge of 9.5″.
Fast forward to 2021, following the Death of the owner of Brightwalton Light Railway, the Family kindly offered us the chance to buy The Wasp.
We have since given her a full overhaul, regauged her back to 10.25″ gauge and repainted her back into orginal livery.
Although The Wasp will never pull passengers, she will be made publicly available to view, and make running appearances on special events.
