Photo:
Michael Patterson - Sentinel 11 ready for service first time in 30 years

This Sentinel locomotive was built in 1945 and delivered to Tottenham Gas Works in January 1946. It received the number 11 and worked regularly until the early 1960s. Latterly it was retained as a spare to two diesel locos and was little used after 1965, being officially withdrawn in 1968. In 1970 it was purchased for preservation by a Quainton member and moved to Quainton.

In this engine the drive passes via a two speed gear box through a single chain to the front axle. This is connected to the rear axle by another chain on the same side. The maximum speed in high gear is 11 mph, and in low gear 6½mph, whilst the haulage capacity on level track is in excess of 600tons. The space between the boiler and the cylinders at the front of the engine is occupied by a 340 gallon water tank.

Restoration proceeded rapidly and No. 11 was steaming again by mid-1971. Later the loco was repainted in its original livery of dark red and black with yellow lining. After laying out of service for a number of years the loco has recently changed ownership and under went an overhaul. It has had a full retube and vacuum brakes have been installed. The loco succesfully passed a steam test in October 2017.

No. 9366 left Quainton for the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway in October 2021, later moving to the Telford Steam Railway, then in February 2024 moved to the Chasewater Railway.

Photo:
Robert Frise - No. 11 recovering the London Underground car from the main line - 10th October 1981