Photo provided by Michael Whitehouse (C) Ken Cooper

A Brief History:

“Nancy” became works number 1547 of Avonside works and was delivered new to Stanton Ironworks Co. Ltd for use on their Brewer’s Grave tramway serving Woolsthrope Quarries in Leicestershire. It spent its working life in the ironstone Industry until 1961 when it was bought for preservation by a group based at Watnall, Nottinghamshire. It remained there until 1972 when it was acquired by Lord O’Neill for Shane’s Castle Railway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. 

Preservation at Dromod:

“Nancy” remained there until she was purchased by C & L in 1997 for restoration and service on portion of the restored line at Dromod. In early 1999 “Nancy” was shipped to the premises of Alan Keef Ltd., Lea Line, Nr Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England to start the process of restoration.

Most of the components above the running plate were fit only to use as a pattern for new parts. By April 2001, “Nancy” had been stripped; the reusable components ultrasonically tested, and when fit for use, have been cleaned, repainted and reused. The reprofiled wheel sets have been reunited with the frames, and the assembly of the cylinders, motion work and valve gear is now complete. The manufacture of the footplates, new tanks, cab and bunker, using the originals as patterns, see right hand side.

An article in the Railway Magazine shows further details on the restoration.

Nancy has now returned and has brought steam to Dromod for the first time since 2004 when Dromad’s boiler cert required renewal. Nancy was formally approved by the Commission for Rail Regulation in the Spring of 2022.

The Dromod crew on shed, seen left to right are Thomas Fogarty, Darragh Connolly, Peter Williams, Philip Bedford and Micheal Kennedy

The Avonside “Nancy” Restoration Group:

The group have given much direction and leadership to the project and without their input we would be no where, their site is available .

The Swilly and NCC Connection:

Michael Kennedy has collected the whistle and gauge glass from a LLSR engine, it came from one of the “Big Giants” the biggest narrow gauge engines to operate in these islands, for the first time since 1953 a Lough Swilly engine can be heard.

The brass dome now fitted (C) CLR

There is also a bit of history from a former NCC 2-4-2T, the Downpatrick and County Down Railway donated the chimney to us. It has been fitted to Nancy and looks superb.

The author recalls donating money into the chimney while visiting Downpatrick! He didn’t think it would grace Nancy at some point!

Historical Gallery of “Nancy”

The first image is provided courtesy of James Waterfield, the second is courtesy of the Midland Railway Trust. The sixth and seventh are courtesy of Ken Cooper (held by Michael Whitehouse).

  • Photo copyright James Waterfield showing Nancy in the early 1900s with superb lining
  • (C) Midland Railway Trust, note Nancys chimney has a hole in it
  • Courtesy Ted McEvoy showing Nancy in the 1930’s
  • Archive image
  • Archive image at Eastwell
  • (C) Ken Cooper at Eastwell, Courtesy Michael Whitehouse
  • C&L archive
  • In steam at Eastwell
  • (C) Ken Cooper showing Nancy at Eastwell in superb form, courtesy Michael Whitehouse
  • (C) Railway Bylines showing Nancy after the last train at Eastwell in 1959
  • Shortly after the last train, note the chimney
  • Nancy lying dormant at Eastwell before being bought by the stirland brothers
  • Nancy dormant
  • Courtesy Philip Bedford Nancy is seen at the Shanes Castle Railway in Northern Ireland on 15th September 1985
  • As previous pic courtesy Philip Bedford, note the condition Nancy is in. The dome she has originated from a CDR loco her brass one was stolen in the UK
  • Nancy’s remains being hoisted onto a low lader to Dromod
  • Nancy arrives at Dromod
  • Nancy is lowered onto C&L rails for the first time
  • Nancy at the platform
  • Nancy heading to the UK for restoration
  • Nany’s brand new boiler
  • brand new tanks and cab along with overhauled chassis
  • Nancy being hauled out of storage for finishing off
  • Nancy is brought back to Keefs workshop
  • A brand new smokebox had been made
  • Seen at the Keef open day in September 2018
  • Andrew Waldron, Micheal Kennedy and Patrick Keef with wagonmaster plates
  • Thomas, Alan and Darragh
  • The old smokebox door
  • Micheal, Darragh and Carthath collected a former NCC narrow gauge chimney from our friends at the DCDR.
  • A brand new smokebox door using the original iron work
  • The boiler has been primed and ready for fitting to the chassis
  • The NCC chimney awaits fitting
  • fits like a glove!!
  • The regulator in place
  • Cladding ready for fitting
  • Cladding has been fitted as a trial
  • The cladding has now been painted by Keefs
  • The tanks have now been added
  • Injectors are in place
  • The cab has been added
  • and now to steam!!

Nancy’s Restoration:

  • Nancy seen at Shanes Castle in the 1980s (Philip Bedford)
  • Nancy seen looking at the smokebox, note the dome is from a former CDR loco and the chimney was stored (Philip Bedford)
  • The chassis of Nancy is seen here being loaded on a lorry in 1997 for onward shipment to Dromod, Nancy was a kit of parts at the time (CLR)
  • Nancy arrives at Dromod in 1997, note that very little remained of her, even the boiler was scrap. (CLR)
  • Nancy is gently lowered onto Cavan and Leitrim Metals for the first time in its history, it was hauled off by a yellow simplex which can just be seen out of shot (CLR)
  • The boiler (CLR)
  • This was what we had from Nancy, everything else has been remade based on patterns. The boiler was also replaced. (CLR)
  • Nancy seen in the platform siding alongside Dromad, this is such a remarkable difference from her current condition. (CLR)

Nancy at Keefs:

The album below shows the restoration work undertaken with Nancy while at Alan Keef ltd between 1997 and 2018, a period of 21 years! £160,000 and a new boiler later she has been completed. A special word of thanks must be extended to several groups including the Avonside “Nancy” Restoration Group, Martin Ball, Lord O’Neill for their contribution to the project. Thanks must also extend to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway for donating a former narrow gauge NCC locomotive chimney to the project.

Nancy Steams Again!

The album below shows Nancy steaming for the first time in preservation at Alan Keef ltd and her arrival at Dromod.

Thank you to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media for supporting us with grant aid to fit an air brake pump and braking to Nancy, This will allow Nancy to operate safely with no conditions on operation and will further allow engagement with members of the public and our museum.

Source: Cavan & Leitrim Railway