110-Year-Old Hudswell Clarke Number 1208 'Harold'! Leading an Atmospheric Top-and-Tail Gala Train

LEADING LOCOMOTIVE: Hudswell, Clarke & Co. 0-6-0T No. 1208 'Harold'
Constructed by pioneer industrial locomotive builders Hudswell, Clarke & Co. at Railway Foundry in Leeds, West Yorkshire, the 110-year-old tank locomotive No. 1208 Harold (originally named Mitchell / Illingworth) was built in 1916 (Works No. 1208). Designed for heavy industrial shunting, this locomotive is powered by two outside 12″ x 18″ cylinders operating with a boiler pressure of 160 psi, producing 10,200 lbf of tractive effort and approximately 300 horsepower. Turned out in a striking Apple Green livery with polished brass fittings and carrying Harold nameplates on its side tanks, 1208 pilot-heads the special autumn gala working.

HAULED STOCK: 6-Wheel Brake Van No. M32978M & 2 BR Lined Maroon Mark 1 Coaches
Forming a unique vintage passenger rake on the East Lancashire Railway, the train features LMS 6-wheel passenger brake van No. M32978M marshalled directly behind the leading bunker of Harold. Built in 1939 (87 years old) at LMS Derby Works in Derbyshire, this 6-wheel guards van provides authentic traditional railway character ahead of the passenger coaches. Following the brake van is a two-carriage formation of British Railways Mark 1 passenger coaches finished in lined BR maroon livery: BR Mark 1 Tourist Second Open (TSO) No. E4996, built in 1962 (64 years old) at BR Doncaster Works in South Yorkshire, and BR Mark 1 Corridor Second (SK) No. M5040, built in 1962 (64 years old) at BR Wolverhampton Works in the West Midlands.

TRAILING LOCOMOTIVE: L&YR Class 21 0-4-0ST 'Pug' No. 11243
Constructed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) at Horwich Works in Lancashire, the 116-year-old Class 21 four-wheeled saddle tank locomotive No. 11243 was built in November 1910 (originally designed by Sir John Aspinall and built under George Hughes). Designed specifically for negotiating tight-radius industrial dockland curves, this compact 0-4-0ST is powered by two outside 13″ x 18″ cylinders driving 3′ 0.5″ wheels operating with a boiler pressure of 180 psi, generating a remarkable 12,740 lbf of starting tractive effort and approximately 350 horsepower. Turned out in LMS unlined black livery, this historic four-wheeled Lancashire 'Pug' provides trailing assistance in top-and-tail formation.

Late Gala Departure & Tunnel Plunge at Bury Bolton Street Station
Captured on a very atmospheric, steamy autumn afternoon on Friday, 16th of October 2026 at 13:17, Hudswell Clarke No. 1208 Harold and trailing L&YR 0-4-0ST No. 11243 depart Bury Bolton Street station on the East Lancashire Railway. Operating during the ELR Autumn Steam Gala on the scheduled 13:00 service from Bury Bolton Street to Ramsbottom, the train gets underway 17 minutes behind schedule at 13:17.

With 1208 Harold opening up at the head and four-wheeled saddle tank 11243 pushing from the rear, both locomotives send thick plumes of white exhaust into the damp autumn air. Powering out from the platform, the top-and-tail pair plunge into the dark stone road bridge tunnel at the north end of Bury station, echoing heavy cylinder beats and filling the station throat with steam as they head north towards Ramsbottom.

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
If you enjoy my videos and want to help me make future content, any help would be very welcome and greatly appreciated! Please feel free to check out my pages below:

🚂 Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/MobileTrains
🚆 Patreon: https://patreon.com/MobileTrains

Thank you so much for watching and supporting MobileTrains!