NCB, Maesteg 0-6-0T No. 6 'Linda' ('Thomas')
Alresford, Hampshire, UK 		Location: Mid-Hants Railway
Status: Operational
Posted: Aug 13, 2025 @ 05:08:02 by Russell Newman
"Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda"), is visiting the Epping Ongar Railway for the remainder of the summer season as extra motive power from August until September 2025.
Posted: May 13, 2025 @ 06:05:29 by Russell Newman
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends making their debut in the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry from the first volume "The Three Railway Engines" back in 1945. Since then Thomas and his friends have become very popular to fans all over the world and even more through the popular Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (Thomas & Friends) television series developed by the late Britt Allcroft along with model director David Mitton from 1984 onwards, having been narrated by Ringo Starr along with Michael Angelis in the UK as well by George Carlin, Alec Baldwin, Michael Brando, Pierce Brosnan and Mark Moraghan, along with John Hasler and Joseph May voicing him in the CGI series. Which in 2025 the original pilot episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (Thomas & Friends) "Down the Mine" that was made in 1983 has been rediscovered and restored and viewed for the very first time in over 40 years as part of the 80th anniversary. And of course Thomas and his friends are very popular at Days out with Thomas events at heritage railways around the world, which "Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda"), is still keeping busy at Days out with Thomas events at the Mid Hants Railway (the Watercress Line) and other preserved heritage railways round the UK still since Britt Allcroft gave her blessing and she signed off for the transformation into Thomas since 1994.
Posted: Jan 4, 2025 @ 12:01:50 by Russell Newman
Its with great sadness that Britt Allcroft, the woman who brought the world of Thomas the tank engine and friends from the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry to life on the television screens and gave such a happy childhood to many children and fans around the world has sadly passed away at the age of 81. The Mid-Hants Railway (the Watercress Line) has a strong connection to Britt Allcroft and the Thomas the tank engine and friends of Thomas and Friends television series as she gave her blessing and she signed off for the transformation of ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda" into Thomas the Tank Engine for Days out with Thomas events which is still very popular at the Mid-Hants Railway and some places around the UK still, and has even featured in the Thomas the tank engine friends series in special home release videos in the UK and for Japan during the 1990s. In tribute to the late Britt Allcroft the Mid-Hants Railway had steamed "Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda") without his face and Number 1 on the sides for rights reasons for a special tribute run on their Steam Illuminations Specials with a Wreath of Flowers on his smokebox door as a sign of respect and thank you to her for the happiness she brought.
Posted: Mar 6, 2024 @ 15:03:40 by Russell Newman
"Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda") had successfully underwent a steam test and passed with flying colours. With just some remaining pipe work to be fitted and some final painted to be done "Thomas" should be ready for the Day out with Thomas event season around the UK from Easter 2024. 2024 also marks a special year for Thomas and his friends as this year marks 40 years of the original Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (Thomas & Friends) television series which is based on the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and developed for television by Britt Allcroft along with model director David Mitton from 1984 onwords.
Posted: Jan 18, 2024 @ 11:01:52 by Russell Newman
The overhaul on "Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST (Works No. 3781) No. 6 "Linda") is now in the final stages as his newly overhauled boiler was placed back onto the frames. The overhaul has seen a brand new cylinder block fitted and its hoped that Thomas will be in steam again by the spring of 2024, ready for the Day out with Thomas event season around the UK.
Posted: Aug 22, 2022 @ 06:08:45 by Russell Newman
"Thomas the Tank Engine" (ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 6 "Linda") has been taking out of service for his 10 year overhaul, which will see the replacment and fitment of a brand new cylinder block along with other work being carried out.
Posted: Nov 19, 2021 @ 13:11:49 by Russell Newman
The ex NCB, Maesteg Hunslet built 0-6-0T (formerly Austerity 0-6-0ST) No. 6 "Linda" aka "Thomas The Tank Engine" is visiting the Swindon & Cricklade Railway as extra motive power for their Santa Specials over the Christmas season there.
Posted: Apr 18, 2017 @ 14:04:53 by Russell Newman
For the Easter Day out with Thomas event just gone the Mid Hants Railway gave there Thomas The Tank Engine a repaint to make him look smart for the Day out with Thomas season this year.
Posted: Nov 22, 2016 @ 15:11:55 by Russell Newman
The Mid Hants Railways Thomas The Tank Engine does a lot of traveling around the UK visiting other heritage lines for Days out with Thomas events. He also does visits to Europe for Days out with Thomas events in The Netherlands, Belgium and sometimes Denmark.
Posted: Jun 3, 2010 @ 01:06:17 by Joe Taylor
NCB Maesteg No."Thomas" was previously known as No.6 and "Linda"
Posted: Jan 3, 2009 @ 11:01:22 by Steve Frost
'Thomas' takes so many forms - inside cylinders, outside cylinders, as built side tanks and conversions, it's hard to keep up. This one was built as a Hunslet 'Austerity' saddle tank loco, and there are ample illustrations of them 'as built' on the site. The 'Thomas' incarnation is better than some, but the front splasher doesn't line up with the front wheels. Obviously 'Thomas' had bigger wheels and a longer wheelbase than an 'Austerity'!