WD9024 is a Type 27A Mk III Wickham Trolley. When new powered by a Morris 13hp engine T240 and sent on 04 November 1955 to the Ministry of Supply No.1 Railway (Home) Group RE CAV Kineton, Warwicks. Apart from short visits to Bicester MOD, it worked at Kineton as 9024 until sold to the Market Bosworth Light Railway on 18 August 1977. Then it was owned by the Swanage Railway Society in about December 1982 and finally was purchased by Russ and Terry for use on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in December 1994.
Since then, WD9024 has seen seen many years of use and it isn't an overstatement to say that it played a pivotal role in opening the extensions past Wainhill in 1995 and 1996 when it was used intensively by my P-way team. A couple of attempts at restoration and adoption of the body work from the original have been made over time and for example it had drop down canvas sides when built in the mid fifties by B.R. (which afforded little protection from the elements for the hardy gangers who used it!). The C&PRR engineering team have also done a lot on the engine, transmission, exhaust systems etc over the years, but for various reasons, it had fallen into disrepair and disuse and had been sidelined until now.
Russ recently took complete ownership of of both the trolley and trailer on the condition it was restored. So, the job has been done: the basic outline of the restoration was to strip it down, clean and paint everything, refurbish the bodywork, improve the brakes on the trolley, install brakes on the trailer and return them to the railway in a condition that Russ and everyone can be proud of. Russ also comments it was not a restoration back to the original form and the the brief he gave was to improve the reliability, safety and keep it practical, as above all, we want them to be used. Both Trolley and Trailer are now back at the railway and ready to help with the works programme throughout 2016 and beyond.
- Builder
- Wickham
- Class/type
- WD Type 27A Mk.III
- Built year
- 1955
- Status
- In storage
- Wheels
- 2w-2 PMR