For the first time ever we visited Parkend in the Forest of Dean when one of the Dean Forest Railway trains was in the station. Usually all we hear is the distant whistle of a departing loco. If that makes us sound incompetent I should point out that we've never tried to coincide with the trains. This preserved railway line has a small number of steam locos and diesel multiple units that offer rides to the general public and further diesel engines under preservation. The engine we saw is above. It is a British Railways (W) pannier loco, no. 9681, Class 8750. Its wheel arrangement is 0-6-0PT. The locomotive weighs 50 tons and has a tractive effort of 22,515 lb/f. It was built in 1949 making it a relative youngster among preserved locomotives. Very appropriately it carries the "unicycling lion" badge that was used after the creation of the nationalised British Railways in 1948.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon Z 5
