Ex Puriton Royal Ordinance factory ‘Barclay’ shunting locomotive no.578 now resides at Washford. An agreement has been reached between the Trust and the WSR PLc for the lone of the shunter by way of allowing covered accommodation for them to paint their other shunter no.579 before its return to duties at Minehead yard.
Although cosmetically very tidy and wearing a smart green livery, resident shunter, Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 DM No 24 is in need of extensive gearbox repair. The Trust cannot justify spending a large sum of money on its repair, perhaps someone would like to adopt it and finance its return to full working order.
Talking of shunting Washford yard, a shunting training session overseen by the WSR’s senior guards training officer was held their on the 18 December. This was well attended, which gives us a nucleus of trained personnel to call on for duties at Washford.