CLAG is a preservation and restoration group, formed with the intention of bringing 'live' steam to Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Their aim is to restore two steam locomotives from the National Coal Mining Museum. Both require extensive overhaul before they will be fit to run again.
The Chesterfield locomotive action group was formed in mid 2002 with the aim of securing a steam locomotive for the group to restore and eventually operate at Barrow Hill roundhouse. Initial searches for a small locomotive came to nothing until we learned of two locomotives at the National Coal mining museum based at Caphouse colliery near Wakefield. After several months negotiation an agreement was reached whereby the CLAG would lease the loco’s for an agreed period of time. The two engines, Yorkshire engine company 0-6-0, number 2521 and Manning Wardle 0-6-0 ‘’The Welshman’’ number 1207 eventually moved to Barrow Hill in October 2002.
The Welshman was stored outside the front of the the roundhouse on old sleepers whilst the Yorkshire engine company loco was moved inside for restoration to start. The first jobs the group tackled were to remove all the debris, rubbish and scrap that had accrued on the YEC loco in the intervening years between it leaving service and coming into the hands of CLAG. The loco was in a very poor state which included having a tree growing inside the bunker and amazingly the loco still contained the ashes from its last fire!
Both locomotives arrived at Barrow Hill on the 9th October 2002. 'CLAG' would be grateful for a small donation to help the project financially.
