Londonderry Railway 0-4-0WT No. 18
Beamish, Durham, UK 		Location: Beamish North of England Open Air Museum
Status: Overhaul
Posted: Feb 2, 2022 @ 13:02:56 by Russell Newman
The former Londonderry Railway and Seaham Harbour Dock Co. 1877 Lewin built 0-4-0WT No. 18 made one last steaming on the 12th January 2022 and has now been withdrawn from service and awaiting its next overhaul.
Posted: Jun 7, 2019 @ 12:06:34 by Russell Newman
The ex Londonderry Railway and Seaham Harbour Dock Co. 1877 Lewin built 0-4-0WT No. 18 is visiting the Tanfield Railway as their second visiting locomotive for their Legends of Industry Gala from the 14th to 16th of June 2019.
Posted: Sep 20, 2012 @ 13:09:41 by seaham lad
Overhaul is complete with the first moves made. The engine also returned to Seaham on a day trip!
Posted: Jun 13, 2012 @ 10:06:04 by seaham lad
Lewin's overhaul is almost complete with only re-assembling to go. New saddletanks and bunkers have been manufactured at Stafold Barn
Posted: Dec 29, 2011 @ 10:12:24 by seaham lad
Undergoing a restoration at Beamish and should be back in action 2012.
Posted: Sep 29, 2009 @ 14:09:35 by Steve frost
This ancient loco was built by Stephen Lewin at Poole (Dorset) and spent its working life at Seaham Harbour on the Durham coast. Whilst the primary photo shows it following its 2012 restoration, the delightful album photo shows it towards the end of its working life with many of the additions that the Seaham crew had added over the years, which give it its charmingly ramshackle appearance. In particular, the cab which looks like it has been recovered from something else (a Seaham speciality) and the addition of the saddle tank.

The photos also show the two level buffing arrangement so common on North East colliery locos. The upper beam is for contact with standard height wagons as shown by the two rusty marks at the outer ends in the first album photo. The two lower blocks are for the ancient chaldron wagons whose buffing was merely extensions of the chassis side members.

The loco owes its longevity to its ability to reach parts of the Seaham track system that other, more modern, locos couldn't get to. In particular, to get round the incredibly sharp curves to recover spillage wagons from below the coal staiths at the harbour. It would also venture out along the harbour breakwater in the company of an ancient crane and chaldron wagons when repairs were called for.

Its restoration has removed much of the home-made charm that Seaham's 'never throw anything' away philosophy produced.

Posted: Jan 11, 2008 @ 10:01:59 by Doug Bailey
Changed copyright as requested.
Posted: Jan 10, 2008 @ 19:01:00 by Roy Lambeth
Please change the copyright of the photo to read "Ron Fisher"