Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

A Brief History of Axe

Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd built No. 2451 - the loco now known as Axe - at Stoke-on-Trent in 1915. A side and well tank locomotive, it was one of the seventy 60cm gauge "Joffre" Class engines - named after the French First World War commander - that the French government ordered for service on the Western Front.
After the war, 2451 stayed in France, working in the quarrying industry. In about 1956, 2451, along with four sister locos, was found by British enthusiasts, lying derelict at Rinxent, about 12 miles from Calais, having gone out of service almost ten years earlier.
In 1974, all five locos - believed to be the only survivors of the class - were repatriated to England. No 2405 went to the West Lancashire Light Railway near Southport.The others - including 2451 - ended up at the Penyrorsedd Quarry Museum in North Wales, in 1976, and then, in 1978, to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Nos. 2442, 3010 and 3014 were cosmetically restored, but 2451 remained unpainted.
2442 is at the Tefi Valley Railway in South Wales, 3010 is at Dereham in Norfolk,3014 is now at Apedale, Staffordshire.  No 2405 is currently being restored to original condition, and due toreturn to steam during 2009.
No 2451 was purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in 1983. Following the original L&BR’s policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers, No 2451 was christened Axe.
‘Axe’ - Vital Statistics

Length: 15’ 6 1/8"
Height: 8’ 6 1/4"
Width: 5’ 3 3/4"
Tractive Effort: 3,862 lb
Gauge: 1’ 11 5/8" (600 mm)
Cylinders: 8 1/2" dia. x 11" stroke
Valve Gear: Walschaerts
Wheel Dia.: 1’ 11 5/8"
Wheelbase: 4’ 7 1/8"
Water Capacity: Well and Side Tanks: 264 gallons
Coal Capacity: 10 cwt
Weight: (empty) 8T 4 cwt
Weight: (working order) 10T 8 cwt