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Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust
Ironstone Railway Hunsbury Northampton.jpg
A level crossing on the railway
Commercial operations
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Length 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust operates a 1+1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) long heritage railway line at Hunsbury Hill, south-west of Northampton. The line is mainly dedicated to freight working, featuring many sharp curves and steep gradients which were typical of the industrial railway, but rides are available in a variety of vehicles including a converted brake van.

Restoration

In the last few years the site has undergone restoration with 1⁄4 mile (0.4 km) of line being regraded and relaid in 113 lb/yd (56.1 kg/m) rail and concrete sleepers, along with the restoration of 2 locomotives and brake van to enable passenger carrying as well as other restoration projects being undertaken. Operationally the railway has received full operating clearance from the HMRI to allow running on the relaid section of the 1st quarter of the mile of the route.

Locomotives

Steam

  • "Belvedere" Sentinel geared vertical boilered tank engine No. 9365. Built in 1946. On static display.
  • "Musketeer" Sentinel geared vertical boilered tank engine No. 6369. Built in 1946. On Static Display.
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2130. Built in 1951. Operational, returned to steam in 2016 at the Battlefield Line Railway and moved to NIRT in 2020.

Diesel

  • Planet 4wDH. No.3967 - Operational.
  • No. 2087 Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0DM. Awaiting restoration.
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0 No.D697. Undergoing restoration.
  • Ruston & Hornsby 88DS 4wDM. Awaiting restoration.
  • Fowler diesel 4220001 "Charles Wake" built in 1959 – Operational.
  • Fowler diesel 4200022 built 1947 - undergoing restoration
    Fowler diesel 4220001 "Charles Wake" front view
    Fowler 4220001

Former Locomotives

  • "Waleswood" Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST No. 750. Built in 1906. The locomotive was completely overhauled at the railway until 2019, when it left the railway on 1 September for the Chasewater Railway.

Rolling stock

  • B950061 20-ton LMS (BR-built) brake van – operational. Built in 1950 to an LMS design.
  • B490310 12-ton LNER (BR-built) open wagon. Built in 1952.
  • M407942 12-ton LMS open wagon. Built in 1937.
  • 321734 Ex Ruston "88" underframe
  • No. 330 Nordberg trackmachine
  • Joseph Booth steam crane
  • S56134 SR pillbox brake van
  • BR86803 BR GUV Mk1 converted to crane runner wagon

Multiple units

Electric

  • BR Class 411 4CEP TSO nos. 70284, 70296 and 70510
  • BR Class 415 4EPB unit 5176 last surviving unrefurbished unit - reformed as 3EPB, Built in 1954.
    BR Class 415 4EPB unit 5176 pic1
    4EPB 5176
  • BR Class 422 4BIG TRSB 69304 unit 2260
  • BR Class 4DD DMBC no. 13004 (formerly of unit 4002 later renumbered 4902 owing to the number 4002 being reallocated to the second British Rail Class 445) BR Green. Built in 1949.
BR Class 4DD DMBC no. 13004 pic2
4DD DMBC 13004
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