Builder/Type: Greenbat
Works number/year built: 2848/1957
Previous bases: New to Chemical & Insulating Co. Ltd, Faverdale, Darlington; R.Stewart, North Yorkshire; Abbey Light Railway; Ripon & District Light (private) railway.
Notes on the prototype: The Greenbat was restored at the ALR thanks to the efforts of volunteer and electrical expert George Hodgeson. When restored it had a socket on the rear of the battery box to which various adapted power tools fitted, the idea being it could be used as a power source for repairs and maintenance along the line. When not in use, the socket was used to power a posable spotlight from a fire engine that was mounted to the top of the battery box. Unfortunately during a break-in the spotlight and adapted power tools were stolen. In the 00’s it gained the handrail to the back of the cab in a rare consideration to health and safety for the ALR! And when he passed away, George’s contribution to the loco was honoured by naming it after him, albeit only with stickers rather than ‘proper’ nameplates. Even without being used as a power bank for tools, it was a very useful loco used mostly for moving other locos out of the sheds to allow room to swing their starting handles. Without air brakes it couldn’t haul the coaches, but it did pilot some passenger trains on special events. On one such, the Lister was in the train to operate the brakes, but it was in neutral gear with the Greenbat (just about) managing all of the pulling.
Notes on the model: The body is scratch-built in plasticard around a custom-made chassis built by Brian Madge. It is another loco that I’m surprised works at all! The wheelbase is only 14mm, with the cab overhanging more than that to one end of the loco. It is carefully counterbalanced by copious amounts of lead inside the battery box and the driver is a lightweight 3D printed figure.
