The standard gauge steam locomotive named “STAMFORD” currently
resides, on loan, within the exhibition building at Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone
Museum based near Cottesmore in Rutland. This locomotive was built in Bristol in
1927 and spent all of its working life at work on the mineral railways at Pilton
Ironstone Quarries in Rutland. It is one of only a small handful of quarry steam
locomotives that worked in the ironstone quarries in Rutland to survive into railway preservation.
This photograph was taken at the ironstone quarry on 21st May 1966 during a visit by the Birmingham Locomotive Club showing loco STAMFORD with an enthusiasts tour of the quarry railway with the Ruston Bucyrus 5W walking dragline on the skyline.
The locomotive’s owners have recently agreed to sell the locomotive to Rocks by
Rail so that it can remain at the Museum in Rutland, not far from the ironstone quarry
in which it was once in daily use. The Museum is now raising funds to purchase the
locomotive and start the long road ahead for its repair, reassembly and conservation
as a historic museum exhibit.
Taken from a painting of STAMFORD hauling a rake of wagons at Pilton Quarry by Matthew Cousins GRA. A framed print copy of this scene is on display at the museum.
The Museum would welcome any assistance and donations in the furtherance of this
project. Any donations by way of cheques should be made out to Rutland Railway
Museum and marked “Stamford Loco Appeal” on the reverse. Please post to:
Mr A Salmon, Treasurer – Rocks by Rail, 4 Main Street, Stanford on Soar,
Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5PY
Black and white image of STAMFORD at the quarry face.
If you wish to increase the value of your donation by means of Gift Aid, please either
request a form via email from the Curator: Curator@rocks-by-rail.org. Alternatively,
the Gift Aid Form can be downloaded from our Contact & Membership page.
For donors wanting to make their gift by bank transfer please contact the Treasurer
for these details by email: andysam@stayfree.co.uk