Locomotives and Rolling stock
72C
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Many of our locomotives carry the British Railway’s shed code 72C; this was the code for the locomotive shed at Yeovil Town from January 1948 until September 1963 when Yeovil Town was transferred to the Western Region of BR.
All BR locomotives were allocated to a particular shed which had its own shed code which was displayed on an oval plate attached to the smokebox door of each locomotive allocated to that shed. This allowed for quick identification of where the locomotive was based.
After the end of Steam in 1968 depots were allocated a two-letter code abbreviation, of their name eg. Laira became LA.
When we began getting locomotives onsite at the Railway Centre it was decided to adopt the Southern Region’s shed code for Yeovil Town and continue its use as our own for Yeovil Junction’s engine shed.
Lord Fisher
‘LORD FISHER’ was returned to steam in June 2013 and is owned by a Trust. Since the final steaming of Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST ‘Lord Fisher’ (Works No 1398, Built 1915) on 13 January 2007, the locomotive has been stored on East Somerset Railway at Cranmore awaiting a 10 year overhaul. As the railway had no current requirement for ‘Lord Fisher’, Yeovil Railway Centre agreed with the owner, Barry Buckfield, to move the locomotive to its site at Yeovil Junction for restoration.
‘Lord Fisher’ left the works on 7 September 1915 and worked at military establishments in the south east until being purchased by the Gas Board around 1950. It ended up dumped at Hilsea Gasworks in about 1960 when it was purchased and fully overhauled by the Chapel Tramway in Southampton, an industrial line near to the docks. This line closed in 1967 and in the same year 'Lord Fisher', still in working order, was bought by a small group and went first to Longmoor, then to Radstock and finally in 1973 to Cranmore. By this time Barry Buckfield was the sole owner. During the early years of the East Somerset Railway, it was the mainstay, operating brakevan trips and being available for shunting. It was still being used for most shunting up to around 1997 when small diesel shunters were introduced at the East Somerset Railway, which took over most this work.
From 2022 the locomotive was removed from use and is undergoing 10 yearly overhaul.
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Pectin
'PECTIN' was built in 1921 (number 1579) by Peckett & Sons Ltd of Bristol at its Atlas Works, having been designed to perform shunting duties on standard gauge factory sidings. Its working life was spent at the British Aluminium Co (BAC), Burntisland, Fife, Scotland. The engine was purchased for £225 on 24 December 1971 and arrived at its new home at Bulmers Cider in Hereford on 2 March 1972. The loco arrived in Yeovil in 1995 having had its third boiler overhaul costing some £15,000.
During 2004 'Pectin' was given a full 10 year overhaul at Yeovil with much of the work being undertaken by the Centre's volunteers and in 2006 the engine was gifted to South West Main Line Steam Co as part of the winding up of 6000 Locomotive Association. We are delighted to maintain our contact with the ex-members of 6000 Locomotive Association with a special event each year.
The locomotive was named Pectin after an enzyme used to manufacture cider.
From 2015 to 2022 the locomotive underwent a 10 yearly overhaul including removal of the boiler.
River Yeo
Engine Type 48DS with 48 hp Ruston 4YC engine. Works number 458959 and engine number 460158. New to AEI 11/12/1961 of Sheffield Road glassworks, Chesterfield, Derbys with a last known working location AEI Lamp & Lighting at Harworth (Notts). Some 130 locos of this class were built before this example and only 6 afterwards as demand for locos with low power and traction effort had dwindled. The engine has been numbered DS1174 and named 'River Yeo'.
A similar engine (DS1169) used to work at the Yeovil Junction permanent way department (The loco was ex-works on 14/5/1946 (Serial No 237923) and delivered to the Bristol Aeroplane Co at Weston super Mare. It was sold to BR (Southern Region) in 1948, and was used as a shunter at Folkestone Warren until 1962 when it was transferred to Yeovil Junction.)
Cockney Rebel
Number 44. Allocated number 4000007 (Type 400 and 7th constructed) when built in 1947 with a 60 hp engine.
Named 'Cockney Rebel' after its owner in 2007 to celebrate its 60th birthday and restoration. The locomotive is complete with original Fowler engine.
Built by John Fowler & Co and delivered new to Weir Pumps at Coatbridge, Scotland where it stayed for 6 years and then moved to Castrol Oils at Ellesmere Port for another 23 years. Later gifted by Burmah Oil to the Llangollen Railway for use on their new railway. The locomotive was used extensively with the permanent way and named “Burmah” due to its previous career. After being stored the engine became part of the Shropshire Collection of locomotives being stored in a field. The Collection was purchased by Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company Limited and was amongst a number which moved to storage at Yeovil Junction (upside sidings). Purchased for preservation and significantly restored by Ron Weston. From 2021 the locomotive is now looked after by William Gane and continues to be in public use.
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Sam
Fowler Diesel Mechanical Locomotive Number 22900. This is a 4 cylinder locomotive weighing approx 15 tons and is fitted with a 40hp Fowler Sanders engine.
The locomotive was delivered to Birtley Co. Ltd in County Durham on 29 March 1941 spending its life with Caterpillar tractor co tractors before preservation in the 1970's. After the majority of the restoration work was carried out by YRC it was Named 'Sam' after a railway dog.
Fowler "Parts"
Number 22898 originally with 40hp Sanders 4B engine. Been used for parts to keep our other Fowlers running. Please note this is not always viewable on our open days.
Coach 59515
Coach 59515 (DMU Class 117 TCL (Trailer Composite Lavatory) no 59515) was previously in store at Minehead Station on West Somerset Railway.
It was purchased in 2013 and delivered by a class 31, the toilet were removed to make a disabled space (with the addition of double doors). The connecting tunnels were removed and and a driving cab constructed to make a loco hauled "push/pull" service.
Two members, Ron and Shirley Weston, were very generous in assisting towards the purchase and movement costs from West Somerset Railway. The coach has now been named 'Shirley W' in honour of Shirley.
GWR Toad brake van 35923
GWR Toad brake van 35923 was formally handed over by 6000 Locomotive Association to the ownership of South West Main Line Steam Company in 2005.
SR Brake Van
War Dept to a Southern Railway design (1018). Built in 1942 and purchased from RAF Chilmark in 1995
British Railways "Oyster"
British Railways "Oyster" (DB993706)formerly used for ploughing ballast dropped from wagons. Currently undergoing restoration.
ICI Nitric Acid tanker
1935 ICI Nitric Acid tanker belonged to The National Railway Museum after consultation in 2018 they were transferred to the ownership of Yeovil Railway Centre
London & South Western Railway Gunpowder van
1912 - London & South Western Railway Gunpowder van (KDS 61209) belonged to The National Railway Museum after consultation in 2018 they were transferred to the ownership of Yeovil Railway Centre
Vanwides Pallet Van
Vanwides were designed in 1962 the pair of sliding doors on each side allow a 9ft opening to carry pallets and general goods.
"Yeovil Gas Works" 7 plank wagon
Converted derelict 'Port of Bristol' wagon finished in 2018 was representation of a 'Yeovil Gas Works' wagon.
1895 London & South Western Railway Open Carriage
1895 London & South Western Railway Open Carriage truck (5830). Covered to protect frame, in storage.
Port of Bristol wagons
Port of Bristol wagons used as a portable loading dock, arrived at YRC in 2004. These are kept on a unconnected storage line.
Conflat wagon
Conflat wagon restored in 2021, hopefully the base of a new exciting project to be unveiled.
