Stanley (narrow gauge)

Stanley (named after politician Stanley Baldwin) was an American narrow gauge pannier-tank engine who originally worked on the Mid Sodor Railway up until he was turned into a pumping engine.

Biography
Stanley was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works sometime around 1917, and apparently worked in the United States before arriving on Sodor. Following the end of the First World War, Stanley was bought secondhand as army surplus by the Mid Sodor Railway and was re-gauged.

Unfortunately, Stanley proved to be a bad bargain. As he had not been re-gauged properly, Stanley was prone to riding roughly along the track and often derailed, though he believed this was no big deal. Repeated attempts to cure this habit failed, and Stanley was stripped of his wheels and became a pumping engine behind the engine sheds at Arlesdale.

Duke later lectured Stuart and Falcon about Stanley's downfall and they became "unusually good for several days".

Stanley was later relocated to Cas-ny-Hawin to pump out water from the mines, but by December 1946 he was becoming worn-out and broke down, causing the mines to flood. With no reason to stay open, the Mid Sodor Railway was closed and Stanley was scrapped.

Basis
Stanley is based on a Baldwin Class 10-12-D 4-6-0 pannier tank engine, built at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for service in the First World War. They were sent to the United Kingdom and the British War Office chose them to be the principal military steam locomotive for the trench railways. However, they were rough riders and had the tendency to derail. After the war ended in 1918, various railways, such as the Welsh Highland and the Snailbeach District Railway acquired them as surplus. Five of these engines are known to be preserved. Stanley had been re-gauged from 1ft 11 5/8in to 2ft 3in.

Livery
Stanley was painted red.