Train approaching Woody Bay station on the Lynton and Barnstaple railway, Devon, UK, pulled by Joffre Class "Axe" steam locomotive
Steam locomotive "Axe", Woody Bay station on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, Devon, UK. "Axe", is a Joffre class built at Stoke-on-Trent in 1915, originally ordered by the French government for service on the Western Front during WW1. Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd built No. 2451, the locomotive now known as Axe, a side and well tank locomotive, one of the seventy 60cm gauge "Joffre" Class engines - named after the French First World War commander. After the war, 2451 stayed in France, working in the quarrying industry. In about 1956, 2451, along with four sister locos, was found by British enthusiasts, lying derelict at Rinxent, about 12 miles from Calais, having gone out of service almost ten years earlier. In 1974, all five locos - believed to be the only survivors of the class - were repatriated to England. 2451 ended up at the Penyrorsedd Quarry Museum in North Wales, in 1976, and then, in 1978, to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Later she was purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in 1983. Following the original L&BR’s policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers, No 2451 was christened Axe. AXE first steamed at the railway as part of her dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Exeter on November 11th 2008. With eventual completion in January 2009, she arrived back at the railway for steam trials and hauled her first revenue earning passenger service on March 1st 2009.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, North Devon, UK
Photo credit: © will Perrett / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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