DSB1 0-6-0T No. F 656
Wansford, Cambridgeshire, UK 		Location: Nene Valley Railway
Status: Operational
Abbreviation Expansion English
1 DSB Danske Statsbaner Danish State Railways
Posted: Dec 10, 2024 @ 12:12:11 by
unofficially named "Tinkerbell"
Posted: Feb 8, 2024 @ 15:02:07 by Russell Newman
This is the history of ex Danish State Railways, (DBS) Frichs built F Class 0-6-0T No. 656 "Tinkerbell". No. 656 was one of 120 such locomotives built over a 51-year span for the predecessors of the present Danish State Railways. They were based on the original design of four F Class tender locomotives which had been supplied to the State Railways of Jutland-Funen, Denmark, by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1873 and which themselves, later converted to tank locomotives, remained in serv­ice until the late 1930s. Following the devastation of the Second World War, there was an urgent need by Danish State Railways for shunting locomotives. Once again Busse’s long-estab­lished "F" design was called upon and a further 15 such locomotives built, including No. 656, were built in Denmark in 1949 by Frichs, Aarhus. These post-war F Class locomo­tives were still built basically to Busse’s original drawings, but were fitted with stronger buffers and buffer beams and larger coal bunkers. They are alleged to have cost 105,000 Danish kroner each, equivalent to £5,500 in 1949 money, to manufacture. Of the 120 Class F locomotives built, 13 remain in preservation today, the oldest being an 1899 Italian-built locomotive and of these it is believed that about 6 are in working order, No. 656 being one of them. During its DSB working life, No. 656 was allocated to Nyborg, Hensel Frederiria and Esbjerg Depots. Although no specific record of its duties exists, it is reasonable to assume that No. 656 continued in the "traditional" role of shunting, light goods and passenger train working and with the remaining railway ferry duties, before being withdrawn from regular service and placed in store at Aarhus Depot. From Aarhus, No. 656 was purchased privately for preservation in the UK, for around 17,000 kroner and transported to Peterborough in 1975. The locomotive was steamed for the first time in the UK in 1976 and after the formal opening of the Nene Valley Railway in 1977 saw regular use on the lighter off-peak trains. As the locomotive is fitted with a bell, it became affectionate­ly known by NVR members as "Tinkerbell". Like all Danish locomotives No. 656 carries the colours of the Danish flag around its chimney. Its antique appearance has made it a favourite with film mak­ers and it has appeared in several sequences including one in "Secret Army" where the locomotive and its train were "shot up" by an RAF Mosquito aircraft. In 1985 No. 656’s owner, Richard Hurlock, sold the locomotive to John Snasdell, but the locomotive was taken out of traffic in 1986 with a failed firebox and placed in store pending availability of resources for a complete rebuild. In late 2002 the decision was taken by the NVR Board to bring the locomotive back into service and to follow a parallel dismantle/rebuild schedule along with Swedish 2-6-2T No. 1178. Systematic dismantling work began on No. 656 in the winter of 2003/4. In 2004 No. 656 Tinkerbell was generously donated to NVR. Dismantling No. 656 was complete by the end of 2005. It had been discov­ered during dismantling that on its previous overhaul 656’s injector feed pipes had been incorrect­ly assembled, preventing water drawn from the full tank depth. This explained the loco’s reputation for rapidly running short of water! The loco had had an extremely thorough and comprehensive overhaul both mechanically boiler wise and should see the railway good for many years to come!
Posted: Jan 20, 2024 @ 09:01:49 by Russell Newman
Following completion of repair work and after a successful loaded test run, the ex Danish State Railways, (DBS) Frichs built 0-6-0T No. 656 "Tinkerbell", is now back in service again and is set to haul its first passenger trains at the Nene Valley Railway for the first time since 1986, on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of February 2024.
Posted: Jul 12, 2023 @ 14:07:46 by Russell Newman
Following repair work to the middle driving wheel axleboxes, former Danish State Railways (DBS) Frichs built 0-6-0T No. 656 "Tinkerbell" is back operational again and will undergo testing and running trials before entering service at the Nene Valley Railway soon.
Posted: Sep 14, 2022 @ 14:09:47 by Russell Newman
The former Danish State Railways (DBS) Frichs built 0-6-0T No. 656 "Tinkerbell" was steamed and moved under its own power for the first time in over 40 years as No. 656 passed its successful steam test. Which this marks the end of its overhaul and rebuild as No. 656 is operational again. No. 656 will go back into the workshops at Wansford for final fitting to be carried out before more testing and entering service at the Nene Valley Railway soon.
Posted: Jul 22, 2021 @ 08:07:07 by Russell Newman
A milestone in the overhaul of Danish Railways or DSB Frichs built 0-6-0T No. 656 "Tinkerbell" has been reached as the boiler of the locomotive was successfully steamed and passed its out of frames steam test at Locomotive Maintenance Services at Loughborough in Leicestershire. The boiler of No. 656 is to return to Wansford next week to be reunited with the mainframes of the locomotive.
Posted: Jan 2, 2019 @ 13:01:50 by Russell Newman
The overhaul on former Danish Railways or DSB 0-6-0T No. 656 is really coming along. As the boiler of the locomotive has just been sent to Locomotive Maintenance Services at Loughborough in Leicestershire for its overhaul there.
Posted: Aug 25, 2018 @ 09:08:43 by Russell Newman
The overhaul of former Danish Railways or DSB Frichs built 0-6-0T No. 656 named "Tinkerbell" has started up again by the Small Loco Group. It is hoped to have the locomotive in steam again in two to three years where it will have both air and vacuum brakes fitted for use on mid week services at the Nene Valley Railway. There could also be the possibility of it visiting other heritage railways as well?
Posted: Feb 15, 2004 @ 16:02:00 by David Withers
I'm pleased to report that 656 Tinkerbell is now undergoing a heavy general overhaul at the Nene Valley Railway.  There is no predicted completion date, and none will be set, however it ought to be possible to have Tinkerbell back in service within three years.
Posted: Jul 28, 2003 @ 15:07:57 by Peter Paget

Is This locomotive going to be restored to a serviceable and to working order condition. She has not run for about 12 years on the railway