Visit to David Buck’s Private Railway Fifield

The RCTS and BLS held a very successful visit to David Buck's Railways at Fifield during the afternoon of Monday 26th June.

Proceedings started officially at14.00 with David making a short presentation welcoming us to his house which was bought partly because the grounds were flat, unlike McAlpine's property with its marked hill. He gave us some detail of what was happening during the afternoon involving the two different gauge railways and a traction engine. A helpful summary booklet of the rolling stock on the site was available, along with a few other books for sale. Refreshments were available during the afternoon.

Highlight for many was the running of Finnish Railway Pacific 1016 now in early BR Apple Green livery and renumbered 91016. This ran along most of the length of 5 foot gauge track available to it. It had received its boiler certificate for 170 psi on the previous Thursday and had been used for two other days over the weekend. It's restoration has taken a long time but has primarily been undertaken during the last 14 months by his engineer who had been previously involved in work on Mayflower before it was sold. The locomotive is named Lady Patricia after his wife. Rides were available in the tender during the afternoon.

In addition, standard gauge rides were being provide by Sir Vincent (Aveling-Porter 8800 of 1917) with an open wagon and brake van B954171 on an old underframe (from DM236074).This travelled via a circular route with a short siding where reversal took pace which allowed the train to alternatively run in either direction with part of the route alongside Lady Patricia. At the end of the day Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Swanscombe of 1891 was posed with Sir Vincent. This is currently on loan at Fifield and claimed to be the oldest surviving Barclay Locomotive.

Our Thanks to David Buck for the afternoon.