Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 418789 Archibald

Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 418789 Archibald
Archibald nameplate.jpg
One of Archibald's nameplates
Built By Ruston & Hornsby
Configuration 0-4-0
Power type Diesel Mechanical
Status Scrapped
Other Numbers Works No 418789/1957
History
Built 1957
Designed By Ruston & Hornsby
Type DM165
1981 Arrived on SVR
Technical
Length 22ft 1in
Weight 28t

Diesel Locomotives

Preamble

Contents

Service

Built by Ruston and Hornsby of Lincoln as Works No 418789 of 1957, it was delivered new on 6 December 1957 to Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon Co. Ltd., Old Park, Wednesbury. The locomotive was registered by the British Transport Commission as No. 2448 in 1957. In 1964 it was sold to Patent Shaft Steelworks, also of Wednesbury[1][2].

Preservation

418789 was one of four Ruston and Hornsby shunters acquired from Patent Shaft in 1980, arriving on the SVR on 29 October in that year where it was Christened ‘Archibald'.[3] Initially, Pete Cherry owned Archibald. However, when brought to the SVR, the Railway were not really aware which of the locomotives were any good. It transpired that Archibald and sister locomotive William were not going to be kept long-term, and that Diesel Electric 418596 would stay as Bridgnorth shunter rather than be used by the P-Way as was originally thought. At that point ownership of Archibald and the Diesel Electric locomotives was simply swapped.[4]

Archibald saw only brief service on the Railway. It was later used as a source of spares for the other Rustons,[2] before being sold for scrap at CF Booth in Rotherham. At Booth's, it was exchanged for BR Class 11 12099 by The Kidderminster Shunter Fund. Archibald was cut up in April 1990.[5] Some parts from Archibald were used in the overhaul of ”Red Ruston” 319290 at Kidderminster in spring 1991[6].

See also

References