Hunslet Lilla – 7 1/4in. gauge locomotive stolen

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Stolen locomotive

The late Charlie Hudson with the locomotive ‘Lilla’ which he built and his family bequeathed to the Melton Mowbray and District Model Engineering Society. Police are appealing for witnesses after the third-of-a-tonne weight engine was stolen from a shed off Melton Road, Whissendine.

Published on Wednesday 21 September 2011 14:07

THIEVES dragged a third-of-a-tonne weight miniature steam locomotive about 200 yards across a cricket pitch in Whissendine before loading it into a vehicle.

The dark blue 7.25-inch gauge Hunslet 0-4-0 quarry locomotive, called ‘Lilla’, was stolen from a locked shed on the sports ground off Melton Road.

The locomotive, measuring about five feet in length, belongs to the Melton Mowbray and District Model Engineering Society which has a miniature railway track at the back of the sports club.

The engine is of huge sentimental value to the society as it was bequeathed to them, as a club locomotive, by the family of the late Charlie Hudson when he died.

Mr Hudson, pictured above right with Lilla, built the locomotive and was a member of the society.

Also stolen was the society’s dark green 5 to 7.25-inch dual gauge battery electric 0-4-0 ‘Simplicity’ locomotive, a McCulloch strimmer and a Makita mains electric drill.

The estimated combined value of the two stolen locomotives is about £9,500.

Norman Smedley, chairman of the society, said: “We’ve just been left speechless and sickened at what these cretins have done because Lilla was bequeathed to us to use as a club locomotive when Charlie died. It has far more than monetary value.”

The thieves struck between 7pm on Friday (Sept 16) and 9am on Saturday (Sept 17). They used bolt croppers to break into three sheds before making off with the engines.

Mr Smedley added: “I’d say there must have been four of them to lift Lilla onto the floor and then drag it, presumably with ropes, across the paved area of our tracksite, through the gateway and then right across the cricket pitch and across the car park to a waiting vehicle. They must have been absolutely knackered.

“It has either been stolen to order or it will be cut up and weighed in for scrap.”

l Anyone with any information about the thefts should call Pc 2962 Chris Antcliff on (0116) 222 22 22.

This story has been copied from the Melton Times internet newspaper for the sole benefit of helping to catch the thief. http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/

 

 

 

Edited By David Clark 1 on 23/09/2011 08:34:51

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hunslet Lilla – 7 1/4in. gauge locomotive stolen

[adyParticipant @ady]

I really hate to say this but it’s probably going to be broken up for scrap, sold for not much more than 50 quid and spent at the pub.

 

I got over 200 notes for my car, 5 years ago I got 25.

Scrap metal is worth hard cash now.

Even manhole covers in the road are going walkies where I’m at.

 

Hope I’m wrong of course.

Edited By ady on 23/09/2011 08:46:39

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