Hawarden is a 0-4-0 saddle tank built in 1899 by Hudswell Clarke in Leeds. It was delivered to the Globe Iron Works of John Summers Ltd where it would spend its entire working life working alongside similar Hudswell Clarke locos.
It was withdrawn from service in the early 1960s with rail traffic on the site ceasing shortly after. The Summers family were notable railway enthusiasts so arranged for Hawarden and Vesta (a Hudswell Clarke tank locomotive) to be preserved. They were cosmetically restored at Hawarden Bridge Steel Works before being put on display at Penrhyn Castle as part of the National Trusts collection.
Nearly 60 years later in, a change in National Trust policy resulted in Hawarden being offered to the Bahamas Locomotive Society (BLS). They kindly accepted and ownership was transferred over. BLS generously decided to put Hawarden on long term loan to Middleton where it could be displayed undercover a short distance from where it was built.
It arrived at Middleton in early 2024 and was moved into the Engine House. A number of cosmetic repairs were made including painting the name on the side of the tank.
Hawarden is one of only a few surviving examples of a Victorian built loco for use in heavy industry. Alongside other Hudswell Clarke locomotives in the collection, it tells the important story of how locomotive designs changed with things such as crew conditions becoming more of a consideration.
