Hunslet

Hunslet is a saddle tank who works on the Mallingford line for Tri-ang Railways. He was reduced in height to operate on the route due to the Beverley Bridge.

Bio
Hunslet was built in 1934 to operate goods trains on the Mallingford line located under the mainline towards the harbour of Portsmouth. Due to the Beverley Bridge which carries the mainline over the branch, his design was reduced in height so he can clear the bridge.

Livery
Hunslet is painted in TR Blue.

Basis
Hunslet is based off an Austerity 0-6-0ST, designed by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds. 485 of the famous Austerity saddle tanks were built between 1943 and 1964 for military and later industrial service across the UK. They were built by Hunslet Engine Company mainly but during WWII, they were also built by Andrew Barclay & Sons, W. G. Bagnall, Hudswell, Clarke & Company, Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns and Vulcan Foundry to keep up with the order book written by the War Department. The class was one of the last steam locomotives in service outside of preservation with withdrawal happening between 1959 and 1984 under industrial service. 70 have been preserved.

Filming model
Hunslet's main model is made from a Hornby Hunslet Austerity with its cab reduced in height and the water tank lowered.

Trivia
Hunslet is named after his builder, Hunslet Engine Company.

Hunslet's design has been reduced in height so he can clear a narrow bridge. This has been done on many real locomotives such as Bagnall's 0-4-0STs 'Alfred' and 'Judy', owned by the Port of Par in Cornwall.