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Hunslet Austerity 3806 "Wilbert"

Hunslet 3806 was originally purchased from Rugely, Staffordshire by a group of members and delivered to Parkend in 1976. Left on a short piece of track north of the level crossing. It remained there after the mass movement of stock to Norchard on 16 January 1978 and was later moved to Norchard for full restoration. At this point the members who purchased the locomotive were allocated shares in Forest of Dean Railway Ltd and it became the first steam locomotive owned by the Company

The loco was built at Hunslet, Leeds works in 1953. In August 1981 the Rev. W. Awdry named it "G.B. Keeling" after the first Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Severn & Wye Railway following a members' ballot for a name for the engine. On September 13th 1987 the Rev. W. Awdry named it "Wilbert", in his honour, following a major overhaul and repainting. On November 8th 1983 "G.B. Keeling" hauled the Royal Train on DFR when HRH the Duke of Gloucester visited the railway to present the Wye-Dean Attractions Group Trophy to the railway for the Most Significantly Developed Tourist Attraction in the Region. (pictured in the 'Royal Trains' book)

In September 1984 the DFR's second Hunslet 3823 arrived at Norchard and was named "Warrior".

Wilbert performed admirably when the line to Lydney Lakeside (now St.Mary's Halt) opened with "City of Truro" on September 8th 1991. It hauled the first members and fare paying passengers to Lakeside on September 14th-15th when it became possible for the DFR to use the platform, which was not possible on the 8th because the track was not yet close enough to the platform.

Current news

The locomotive is out of service for a major overhaul. We hope to have Wilbert back in service in 2007.

February 2007

3806 as 'Wilbert' at Norchard, August 1987

3806 as 'G.B.Keeling' at Norchard 1982

HRH the Duke of Gloucester with driver Bryn Harris on November 8th 1983 aboard 3806 'G.B.Keeling' as it was then named.