Synolda @ 100

During the planning for Railfest 2012, the centenary of former Sand Hutton Railway locomotive Synolda had not gone unnoticed. Matt Ellis, NRM’s Rail Operations Coordinator made arrangements with the ‘Ratty’ (as the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is more commonly known), that looks after this venerable machine in their museum, to bring Synolda back to Yorkshire.

In past years I've been disappointed by the events held at the NRM. For a free museum the additional costs seem excessive and the overcrowding makes them a very unpleasant experience so I didn't check what was happening at Railfest2012 and as a consequence missed the visit of Synolda. The following are unauthorised copies of others photos taken at the event.

While I was a little annoyed with myself for missing the above I was extremely disappointed when I later found out that our colleagues at the Sand Hutton & Claxton Heritage Group had managed to get Synolda to visit Sand Hutton School for a special 100th birthday visit. Even if they didn't want large numbers there I would have thought that with our recent club exchange visits and in particular our common link with the SHLR they would have invited us.
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To make up for this I've nicked most of the following photos of the event from thier website.

Prior to her debut at Railfest, Synolda journeyed to the village of Sand Hutton, the place of her birth back in 1912. Although the Sand Hutton Light Railway closed in 1932, Synolda celebrated her homecoming with a special 100th birthday party at Sand Hutton Primary School. She received a warm welcome from the children and once the cake had been eaten and the obligatory 'Happy Birthday' song had been sung, the engine was transported to the National Railway Museum in York to take part in the Railfest. It was quite the change of scenery compared to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Museum, where despite being restored to working condition by apprentices from BNFL, she is mainly only used at gala events and on special train days, normally living in the museum building!
Bob Gwynne, Associate Curator of Rail Vehicles at the National Railway Museum, said:

"We're delighted that we were able to mark Synolda’s birthday with a fitting celebration at the very place it started its operating life 100 years ago. Synolda captured the hearts of the local people of Sand Hutton when it was first brought here in 1912 and it’s lovely to see that the little engine has created similar excitement with the school children today. The next stop for the locomotive is the National Railway Museum where it will be added to the impressive line-up of vehicles attending Britain's biggest rail celebration, Railfest."











Prior to her debut at Railfest, Synolda journeyed to the village of Sand Hutton, the place of her birth back in 1912. Although the Sand Hutton Light Railway closed in 1932, Synolda celebrated her homecoming with a special 100th birthday party at Sand Hutton Primary School. She received a warm welcome from the children and once the cake had been eaten and the obligatory 'Happy Birthday' song had been sung, the engine was transported to the National Railway Museum in York to take part in the Railfest. It was quite the change of scenery compared to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Museum, where despite being restored to working condition by apprentices from BNFL, she is mainly only used at gala events and on special train days, normally living in the museum building!	Bob Gwynne, Associate Curator of Rail Vehicles at the National Railway Museum, said: "We're delighted that we were able to mark Synolda’s birthday with a fitting celebration at the very place it started its operating life 100 years ago. Synolda captured the hearts of the local people of Sand Hutton when it was first brought here in 1912 and it’s lovely to see that the little engine has created similar excitement with the school children today. The next stop for the locomotive is the National Railway Museum where it will be added to the impressive line-up of vehicles attending Britain's biggest rail celebration, Railfest."