Chris Cooper visited the Purbeck Mining Museum at Norden
gives an overview of the Isle of Purbeck ball clay mines and tramways : Fayles’ Tramways and Pikes’ Tramways.
in 1881 the pits north of Norden Farm were being worked out and the tramway was extended eastwards along a parallel route to the proposed Swanage Railway to Norden where pits were dug, clay was processed and weathered. When the L&SWR branch line to Swanage was built an interchange siding was constructed and named “Lord Eldon’s Clay Works Siding” to transfer clay to standard gauge wagons by shovel (a lot later a ramp was built to enable the clay to be tipped).
A short section of 2′ gauge track has been reinstated next to a restored section of the mine and Emmet is seen with tippers at the recent Gala.
Emmet was converted from an Orenstein & Koppel 21159 was a type RL3 diesel that was built in 1938. It was “imported” via George W Bungey Ltd. at Hayes Middlesex and sold to ECC Ball clay Mines at Norden. In November 1972, it was purchased by Hampshire Lt. Rly. Soc. & Museum, Durley, Hants. In 2003 this diesel was “converted” into the steam engine “Emmet” by Jim Haylock.
Secundus is housed in the Corfe Museum of Swanage Railway.
An interesting fact! Russell Hunslet built 1906
In 1936 when the WHR was closed Russel spent a spell of five years in the Dinas shed followed by six years working for the Ministry of Supply at Hook Norton Mines in Oxfordshire. In 1948 Russell came south to Norden.
The leading axle gave trouble (due to the poor quality of the track) and she latterly worked as a 0-6-2 T. But in 1953 a further boiler certificate was refused, and she was purchased by the Birmingham Locomotive Club for exhibition at the narrow-gauge Museum at Towyn in North Wales, being moved in August 1955
