We were however able to call in briefly last Sunday on our way up the A1 to visit "Rocks by Rail" (formerly Rutland Railway Museum), to examine some stock there. It is rare that I am at the Peterborough end of the line, and rarer still that I am in the secure fenced compound behind the station - so here are a few photos of some of the stock that can be found there, all of which is awaiting restoration work to varying degrees.
First up is P143288, a private-owner ironstone hopper. Its condition is not too bad, although the headstocks (bufferbeams) need dropping out and replacing, plus some other repairs. The livery is not thought to be original to this wagon.
In direct contrast is this wagon, No.P208445. It is believed it is the same type as the ironstone hopper above (clearly cut down, in industrial service at British Sugar?), but it is in extremely poor condition and is about to fall apart at the seams.
Also in a precarious state is this, LNWR gunpowder van No.11023.
Another LNWR vehicle is No.36993 (this is its LMS number, its original LNWR number is unknown). Later it entered departmental stock as DM395361 as a 'Pooley van' for servicing weighing machines across the railway network.
One of the vehicles in better condition is LMS open wagon No.237950. This one may be a candidate for restoration to running condition before too long, although we need to finish our current projects first...
...however these two 'vanfits' may be in front of it in the overhaul queue.
This is LMS CCT No.37066, which featured in the circus train for the James Bond film "Octopussy". It still retains the modifications made to it for the filming, such as the ribs to the roof, personnel doors in each end, grab rails on the side, and a hatch in the roof.
Finally is Danish compound 'Pacific' No.996. Something of an ugly machine in my view, lacking the grace of the Swedish 'B' class 4-6-0, the Victorian elegance of the Danish 'F' class 0-6-0T ("Tinkerbell") or the rugged good looks of the German Class 64 2-6-2T, all resident at Wansford. Note the colours of the Danish flag around the chimney, something (I believe) all Danish locos carry.
