(click for 2 pictures)	Bagnall This was a new addition for the 2004 operating season. Based on a Bagnall design this 0-4-0 saddle tank is expected to become a regular steamer.
(click for 3 pictures)	Buffalo This 2-8-0 locomotive used to make 12 hour pilgrimages all the way from its home in Scotland. However it's owner has now relocated back down to the south and so it has become one of our most frequent steamers. It is based upon a Canadian National Railway locomotive and as befits a locomotive from North America, it has been seen pulling every coach the club possesses with ease. During 2003 it underwent major works at our clubrooms in the centre of Uckfield to change all the tyres on the wheels, which had gradually distorted out of true.
(click for 3 pictures)	Hercules This locomotive is the only steam one on the railway owned by the Uckfield Model Railway Club. This relatively small 0-4-0 saddle tank is regularly in steam during the summer months and occasionally performs on our portable track when we appear at local events. Compared to the standard Hercules design the locomotive has a slightly larger firebox coupled with a lengthened boiler. This locomotive had an enforced break during 2003 as a result of problems with the water supply on it's driving truck. Following its rebuild Hercules returned to the locomotive roster for 2004.
(click for 3 pictures)	Jasmine A recent addition to the locomotive stud at Bentley, this 0-4-0 saddle tank is a one third scale model of a Hunslet design, typical of those which operated in the old Welsh slate quarries. It is therefore a large locomotive of narrow gauge outline with a short 4 wheel chassis. This enables it to pull large passenger trains around tight curves if necessary.
(click for 2 pictures)	Kerr Stuart Wren This locomotive was built in 1994 and has seen regular service on the railway ever since. It is a model of the little Kerr Stuart narrow gauge 0-4-0 locomotive which used to run in the old L.N.W.R. workshops at Crewe. In 2002 the locomotive was named "Bill Powell" in memory of it's late builder.
(click for 2 pictures)	Lorna This locomotive is a scratch built model of a Great Central Railway Class 12A 2-4-0 (Ex Sacre M.S. & L.R. outside framed Class E3). Lorna took nine years to build and despite its small size it has proven that it is capable of hauling up to 30 passengers. Unfortunately due to recurring boiler problems on this locomotive it's 2003 operating season had to be curtailed. But it made a welcome return to active duty in 2004.
(click for 6 pictures)	Taurus, Remus, Romulus I & II We boast 4 locomotives built to the very popular and powerful Romulus design by Don Young. They are built to essentially the same 0-4-0 narrow gauge design, but each has its own unique history. Taurus has been running at Bentley for the last ten years and has had a number of different tenders over that period. Remus is the oldest of the Romuli and orginally helped the Club when we used to take the portable track to fetes etc., before the track at Bentley was constructed. Unusual for the class Remus has a round-topped steam dome cover, formed from part of a diver's air cylinder, but is otherwise faithful to the original design, complete with well tank between the frames. Romulus I has a large six-wheeled tender and has recently undergone major work to the boiler. Romulus II is the youngest of the family and like Remus has an open cab.
(click for 4 pictures)	Emma & Apollo These were brand new locomotives for our 2002 season. Built to the Tinkerbell design, these enclosed cab locomotives are expected to be seen regularily hauling passengers throughout the summer months. Sisters from the same works, Emma is the yellow one, and was rostered for 2004, and Apollo the chocolate coloured one which will reappear for our 2005 season.
(click for 2 pictures)	Tom Rolt Based on the Talyllyn 0-4-2T design, this five inch gauge locomotive first appeared at Bentley in 2001. It had the honour of hauling the special train giving the 100,000 ticket holder at the railway his ride in September 2001 (see the Recent Events Archive). It is a powerful engine and usually appears on summer Saturday afternoons.

The Electric Stars

In addition to the steam locomotives there are a small collection of hard working battery electric locomotives without which we could not run. They are:-

(click for a picture)	Beyer Peacock Hymek The miniature railway was used in 2003 as the testing ground for another prototype from the Compass House works. This time it was a model of a Beyer Peacock Hymek bo-bo locomotive, which ran successfully hauling a number of passengers. As the trials were so successful the Club purchased it's own for running at Bentley. Your train is likely to be hauled by this locomotive particularily at the beginning and end of the running day.
(click for a picture)	Class 31 This regular visitor usually accompanies Buffalo or Sanspareil when rostered at Bentley. This powerful battery electic locomotive, with space for many batteries under it's glass fibre body, is one of many designs which are commercially produced. Based on the Brush Type 2 diesels seen for many tears on BR. The locomotive was purchased because the wife of the owner of the other two locomotives decided that it was time that she should take part in all the fun!
(click for 2 pictures)	The Bulldogs These aptly named locomotives have done much sterling work and can often be seen operating the railway single handed on a quiet Saturday afternoon. They are also rostered for the early turn on Sundays while steam is being raised on the other locomotives. The design is based around a 0-4-0 industrial shunting locomotive. The motive power is provided by 2 leisure batteries connected to four 20A permanent magnet motors. The green locomotive, Bulldog Spirit, was the prototype for the now commercially available locomotive. In particular this locomotive was used to move much of the goods during the building of the Railway's extension. The blue locomotive is a slightly younger privately owned model.

The Steam Visitors

There are a number of steam locomotives which visit the railway regularly. They are:-

(click for 2 pictures)	Black 5 Based upon the design of the very popular L.M.S. main line passenger carrying locomotive, this 4-6-0 has done great service and has certainly proven that it can pull large trains with ease. This locomotive was rarely seen at Bentley during 2004 due to a major overhaul, but is expected to return during 2005 with regular appearances throughout the summer.
(click for 2 pictures)	Britannia This 4-6-2 locomotive is amazingly powerful and is maintained in fine condition. In the care of it's second owner within the Club, it is run only occasionally due to its size. When it does visit the railway however, there is never a problem finding qualified members volunteering to try a hand at driving it.
(click for 4 pictures)	G.W.R. Darts Bentley plays host to two G.W.R. Darts, both numbered 1466. The oldest took part in the 1999 Seven and a Quarter Locomotive Efficiency Competion (SEQLEC) which was hosted at Bentley. The locomotive proudly returned home in third position in this trial sponsored by the Model Engineer magazine. During the summer, particularily on the August Wednesdays, this locomotive can be seen at Bentley. The other Dart is a more recent addition only being completed during 2003, but has regularily been in steam on summer Saturdays ever since.
(click for 3 pictures)	Flying Scotsman This magnificent 4-6-0 locomotive is often rostered to haul passenger trains on our very busy weekends. It is an accurate model of the L.N.E.R. A3 Class locomotive No 4472 "Flying Scotsman and was constructed almost 50 years ago.
(click for 3 pictures)	Elaine & Hunslet We have two other locomotives, who visit the railway, which are of the same basic design as Jasmine (see above). Built to represent Welsh slate quarry locomotives, both Elaine and Hunslet are very powerful. Elaine differs from Hunslet and Jasmine in that it is cabless.
(click for 2 pictures)	Merlin Ambrosius During August 2001 & 2003 we were visited by a single Fairley called Merlin Ambrosius. This locomotive is very unusual in that the working mechanisms are all located on a movable bogie under the locomotive, thus making for a very fast, but also very smooth running locomotive. It has also proven that it can be run equally well in either direction.
(click for 2 pictures)	Sanspareil From the same home as Buffalo (see above) this is a model of the L.M.S.R. unrebuilt Royal Scot 4-6-0 express passenger class is an occasional visitor to the railway.
(click for 2 pictures)	Sweet Peas Within the Club we have two 5 inch gauge Sweat Peas. Although both are designed to the same original specification, the green one is a little special because of the addition of Bakers valve gear. The red one is seldom seen at Bentley now, but was one of the earliest locomotives to run on the railway.
(click for 3 pictures)	William I & II We have two Sweet Williams at Bentley. These locomotives are based upon the 7Ľ inch gauge version of the 5 inch gauge Sweet Pea design. The locomotives are from the same works, but they look entirely different. William I has a square topped saddle tank where as William II is a tender locomotive.
(click for a picture)	Toby A one third scale model of a Manning Wardle 0-4-0 saddle tank, complete with a slate wagon for a driving truck, has become a regular visitor from Suffolk.

The Electric Visitors

There are several battery electric powered locomotives which visit the railway occasionally. They are:-

(click for 2 pictures)	Class 12 This 0-6-0 battery electric locomotive is based on the popular BR Class 08 that can be found shunting all over the UK, but has been finished in early British Railways green livery and numbered 15234, thus portraying one of the ex SR Class 12 shunters. Although designed for shunting purposes it has been proven to work extremely reliably for long periods of time. Powered by only 2 leisure batteries, runs of up to 6 hours are achievable.
(click for 3 pictures)	Class 73 We also have a Class 73 which visits occasionally. This locomotive has had a somewhat chequered history starting out as a genuinely petrol powered locomotive, but now after several changes it has been converted to purely battery electric. Despite the size of the locomotive it manages to house 4 heavy duty leisure batteries, but otherwise the electronics are similar to the Class 31 locomotive mentioned above. This locomotive also played a vital role during the construction of the extension. It is often seen pulling passenger trains on bank holidays.
(click for a picture)	Jenny This, a new addition for 2004, is a dock shunter named Jenny. Despite the design being more accustomed to shunting in a commercial yard, this locomotive is often seen running for the public at Bentley, especially on busy days.
(click for 3 pictures)	Goliath This is a unique electric locomotive which has visited us several times a year over the past six operating seasons. This is despite travelling all the way from Yorkshire. Goliath is the most powerful 7Ľ inch gauge electric locomotive we have ever seen. It is powered by two traction batteries and a fork lift truck motor. The body shell is based around an American design.
(click for 2 pictures)	Western Talisman This twelth scale model of a Class 52 Western locomotive number D1007 Western Talisman has visited the railway on several occasions. This 5 inch gauge model has been constructed from a kit produced by Phoenix Locomotives Ltd of Southport. There are still a few things to do to complete the model including the installation of the window surrounds.

The Petrol Engines

The club has a small number of petrol powered locomotives which help to run the railway. The power and flexibility of the petrol powered locomotives is important to running, particularly on days when passenger numbers are variable or unpredictable. These locomotives are:-

(click for a picture)	Crunchie This locomotive was nicknamed Crunchie due to it's noisy Robin Reliant gear box on it's maiden visit during the Weald Woodfair 2000. Although it now has a new gear box and transmission which is significantly quieter, the name has stuck! Crunchie is used mainly as a standby locomotive or as heavy haulage power for freight workings.
(click for 3 pictures)	Rachel An 0-4-0 petrol hydraulic to a typical industrial design, this locomotive is regularily used on very busy days, principally as a standby to maintain passenger services while steam locomotives are changed. It is powered by a 4 stroke petrol engine through an Eaton hydrostatic drive mechanism. An electrically powered vacuum pump is fitted for the braking system.

Human Power

As a bit of fun we have one human powered locomotive:-

(click for 2 pictures)

Ivor
This one man locomotive, Ivor, is made from bicycle parts combined with a two axle truck on which is mounted a seat. There is a roll of honour displayed at Bentley Central distinguishing those members who have pedalled Ivor for a complete circuit of Bentley Miniature Railway hauling one coach with at least 1 passenger.

Last Updated 2nd April 2005