My personal interest in this 2-6-2 tender locomotive started in 1990. In my capacity as design and development engineer for Roundhouse Engineering Co. Ltd., I was searching for a suitable engine on which to base a new model for production in it's range of 'G' scale steam locomotives. I chanced upon a book all about the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Rail Road, a two foot gauge line that had operated in Maine, USA, and was struck by the looks of #24. It didn't take long to fall in love with this rather sleek looking tender loco, and the model duly entered the Roundhouse range in 1991. Shortly after, I learned of a half size replica that had been built at the Fairbourne Railway workshops, also in 1990, for their 12-1/4" gauge railway.

#24 at Fairbourne shortly after completion in 1990.

By 1992, it had been sold and re-gauged to 15" gauge and was in service on the Bure Valley Railway in Norfolk. That year I was invited down to the BVR by it's then owners, for a little joint publicity for the Roundhouse model and the BVR loco and had my first footplate ride on her.

Early days on the BVR prior to new boiler.

I was impressed, however, the loco had been built to operate on a two mile long railway with pretty light grades yet here she was pulling heavy trains on a nine mile line with a steady up gradient from one end to the other and certain stretches of 1:76. It was very hard work for a loco with only 14" driving wheels and though she is quite powerful (quoted tractive effort of 3000lb), she was being worked too hard.
Problems with the boiler led to a new one being fitted prematurely in 1992. This was a little different to the original and had a deeper firebox and ashpan and better tube arrangement to cure earlier troubles in steaming. It was pitched about six inches higher and resulted in all the cab and superstructure being raised by the same amount. This did have a marked effect on its general appearance and it lost that long sleek look of the original but gained in performance. Despite the improvements, it soon became apparent that she was not really suited for regular running on the BVR and she was eventually withdrawn from service.

#24 during the Kirklees era in yellow livery and bearing the number 2.

Next, #24 saw service on the Kirklees Light Railway where she was painted yellow and re-numbered #2. A number of mechanical modifications were made to her during her stay here, including re-working of the valve gear, and once again performance was improved. She also gained a cab back which was fitted to the tender and made her pretty good in wet weather.

I next met her in 1995 when she attended the steam gala at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway where I am a volunteer driver/maintenance engineer and I spent half a day as pilot on her and had my first chance at driving her.
By 1997, she had returned to BVR, now back in black but still bearing #2 and looking a little sad. Though still in operating condition, she had now lost a few items in her travels and required a certain amount of running repairs.
At Cleethorpes, we had been in need of a further steam loco to join the rosta for some time, and when it became known that #24 was up for sale it was an opertunity not to be missed thus, the 'Sandy River No. 24 Company Limited' came into being and the deal was done.
The move from Aylsham to Cleethorpes was done by lorry on 27th of June 1997.

#24 being loaded at Aylsham 27th June 1997

Next day, Saturday, she was re-assembled and a short test steaming and performance trial was carried out. Sunday saw her enter service and I had the privilage of driving her for her first day of operation on the CCLR. At that time, she joined 'Sian' and 'Katie', the two other steam engines that then operated the Cleethorpes service trains and who coincidentally, also spent their early days at Fairbourne.

First days steaming on C.C.L.R. 28th June 1997.