The Trust’s 1929-built Peckett No. 1788 – named Kilmersdon after the colliery where the loco spent its working life – is revisiting the Somerset coalfield with a stay at ‘The S&D at Midsomer Norton’.
Midsomer Norton is just a few miles down the road from Kilmersdon village. The loco will be at MSN until the new year. Midsomer Norton also had a colliery with its own engine, named Lord Salisbury, and Ivo Peters gave an amusing recollection of his attempts to photograph it.
On Sunday 12 November, Kilmersdon was in service on five passenger trains. However, the diesel at the back had to provide a bit of help in the slippery conditions. Our little loco will be in further service on Santa and new year services. Plenty to look forward to!
This is particularly the case as Midsomer Norton had hired a different steam engine earlier in the year – unfortunately, that had to be returned. There is no mistaking the additional interest that working steam creates. See Midsomer Norton’s calendar and timetables and the locomotive roster.