No. 2 'Sutton Flyer'

Douglas Clayton lost his class 30 drawings, and when in 1938 he decided to build another locomotive, he contacted Henry Greenly, who unfortunately also no longer had them, eventually some photostat copies from an old 'model engineer' magazine were found.

As with No.1, all castings were made by Cannon Ironfoundries, and non ferrous castings were obtained locally. The boiler was completed after ww2 at a cost of £250. The boiler was made for 175psi, although only ever set to 125psi at Sutton.

After Claytons death, Tom Hunt bought the unfinished loco and completed it at the family owned ‘Griffin Foundry’ in Oldbury. While looking a lot like No. 1, it has several technical differences, one inch difference in the driving wheel size, different valve angles and 4 inches more in length on the tender, which gave a better ride and increased water capacity. The lubricator was also moved to the side of the running board, and so reduced chances of it getting covered in ash during disposal. Cab controls were identical except No. 2 had a screw reverser instead of a lever reverser as per No. 1.

‘Flyer’ was completed in 1950, but it was not until 12th April 1952 that it made its debut at Sutton Park. At the end of the 1953 season it received raised running and was later fitted with steam brakes.

'Sutton Flyer' seen during her 1959 visit to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway - © John Tidmarsh Collection