no.39
Rheidol Remembers Peter Rampton
Peter with his Greyhound AC Car
Special Edition
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
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Welcome
A big loss to the railway world...
T
his is a special edition of our newsletter Hopefully reading this publication will to remember a man of mystery who give our readers an insight into a man who leaves a lasting legacy. deeply cared about our line and its future. Peter Rampton along with his good friend I hope too, that in putting this together we Tony Hills purchased our line from British are able to pay a lasting tribute to a man Railways, Peter then going on to take sole who lived to preserve the past for future ownership of our line under the care of the generations, and give an understanding to Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway the character of the man himself, a man Trust. without whom, none of us employed here He was a saviour of many engines from would be able to call the railway a home. all over the world, a number of which will Mr Rampton, I take my hat off to you sir eventually be displayed within our museum, in recognition of a lifetimes achievement. all of them unique. Putting this together has really opened my eyes, learning much more about a man who I, ashamedly, knew little of prior to compiling this. It is always difficult to pay the right tribute to someone you have only had a few very brief telephone calls with. However many of our staff had the good fortune to meet Gareth D Jones him and our CEO, Manager and directors Editor had the priviledge to call him their friend.
C O N T E N T S
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Narow Gauge’s Man of Mystery
Page 11 Our General Manager & Director Remembers Page 12 Our Company Directors Remember Page 14 Our Staff Remember Page 15 Gallery Page 19 Our Staff Remember Page 21 Collection X Page 25 Improving the VoR Page 29 His Legacy Page 2
Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
P
eter John Rampton was born in 1934, the son of Eric & Phyllis Rampton, he passed away on 3rd July 2019. He is renowned in the world of narrow gauge railways for saving a large collection of locomotives and carriages from all over the world, but those who really knew him are few. The Rampton family owned the successful catalogue sales company, Freemans. He found his love of railways early on when he used to cycle with his sister Ann, the one mile route from their home to Surbiton station to capture the numbers of passing engines. Inevitably, a model railway in the family loft soon followed with a live steam Bassett Lowke ‘Mogul’ hauling Exley coaches, inspiring thoughts of adventurous journeys for Peter and Ann. After attending boarding school in
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Malvern, Peter took his first job with Freemans, being employed in the returns department. He thrived on the challenge of catching people out who in his words “swung the lead”. The family had by now moved to Hambledon in Surrey, easy commuting distance from London, and Peter became friends with Derek Hurlock, a member of the family that founded and owned the AC Car company in Thames Ditton. In addition to a shared passion of Steam Railways, they both enjoyed spending many days out behind some of Britain’s finest locomotives (always in Pullman carriages), this friendship also started another of Peter’s passions, caring for, improving and driving his beloved collection of AC Cars all over the country. In the mid-1960’s the opportunity for Peter to buy a run-down farm adjoining his parent’s house arose. With his time at Freemans coming to an end, farming seemed an ideal way to work nearer to home. Yet another lifelong passion was born. Considerable effort was needed to get the farm working again. Exercising his limitless enthusiasm and drive, Peter’s first venture was construction of a state-ofthe-art piggery, employing automation to feed and muck out the animals. Peter often commented the pigs where much nicer than humans! The farm went from strength to strength, offering many challenges along the way, and grew into an impressive, still thriving, operation. Farming was also the catalyst for Peter returning to all
Peter often commented the pigs where much nicer than humans!
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Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
things steam. His interest was rekindled by a pair of John Fowler steam ploughing engines advertised for sale by Sir William McAlpine. Having viewed them he was smitten. An offer was accepted, but he found himself gazumped and the engines went elsewhere. The experience left a bad taste, but started Peter on a journey that would see him save an amazing collection of railway locomotives. Meanwhile, an Aveling diesel roller was bought and restored to immaculate condition. Much of the farm comprised small fields, but as subsidises became available for removal of hedge rows and land improvement Peter set about clearing his land. Meeting John Britton, a land clearance expert, led to a friendship that would change the course of Peter’s life. John also loved steam, owning a Foden steam winch tractor. They became firm
friends, spending many hours blowing up tree stumps on the farm and using the Aveling roller to lay new roads. John Britton hated Christmas and headed for Spain every winter to escape, as he put it, “all the stupid hassle”, a sentiment Peter wholeheartedly agreed with. On one of these holidays John discovered the Sabero mines railway, a small 600mm coal mining line in northern Spain. In 1968 it was still using a complete roster of steam locomotives, some dating back to the 1880s, but not for much longer. Knowing Peter had missed out on the ploughing engines, and feeling he needed something else to satisfy his need for steam, when John returned he showed Peter pictures of the railway and explained a deal could be done. John was a forthright chap and told Peter a chance like this did not come up often and he was, “a bloody fool if he
Peter Rampton driving his Aveling & Porter DX roller which was bought and restored to immaculate condition Page 4
Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
didn’t go for it”. They traveled to Spain, and aware the locos would be scrapped if he did not save them Peter struck a deal, buying the entire roster of engines and shipping them back to the farm. They remain a unique set of locomotives, and while the purchase was against his parents’ better judgment, Peter and John went on to save and bring back to the farm more engines, some now viewed as priceless, while enjoying some amazing adventures in the process. Hulleras de Sabero No. 6 La Herrera being Having caught the collecting unloaded from MV Marilene at West India Docks, bug, Peter was soon heading London, in February 1969. further afield, now with his sister Ann in tow, including the journey of a lifetime to South Africa to recorded many films and would recount see and ride the last big narrow gauge the story of “riding over the Van Standens steam operations in the world. Loving viaduct outside the cab on a NG15 on the South African narrow gauge, Peter the swing driving seat with a 500ft drop below”. Travelling all over South Africa to see what could be saved he brought some unique locomotives back to the UK, including a 50-ton, 2ft-gauge Beyer Garratt. Meanwhile, the farm flourished, with more land being acquired as the operation expanded. A chance encounter created another lifetime friendship when Peter heard of a young lad who had bought a steam locomotive and had it at Peter Rampton stands on the boiler, fully involved in his home. Knowing roughly unloading a Hanomag NG13 Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2T its location, Peter drove SAR No.82 following its arrival from South Africa. home looking for the engine Page Page 5 5
Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
and indeed found ex-Penrhyn Hunslet 0-4-0ST Lilian jacked up on the driveway of a suburban house! The lad was Nigel Bowman, now owner of Launceston Steam Railway. The Hunslet was soon moved to the farm, and the pair had many exploits, including testing Nigel’s own design of air pumps in front of a railway inspector. At the time, the Isle of Man Railway was approaching closure and had been burning historic carriage bodies. Peter and Nigel traveled the island and saved several carriages from destruction. Regarding carriages as being overlooked by most enthusiasts, Peter viewed them as his favourite items, and invested many hours on their restoration. With locomotives continuing to arrive
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at the farm, two open days were held. Locomotives were in steam along with road steam exhibits brought by friends that included Nigel Bowman’s steam traction engine and Derrick Hurlock’s model traction engine giving rides. However, Peter took no pleasure from seeing what he described as “running wrecks” operating, and viewed the open days a waste of time, sapping energy from restoring engines and saving more. The open day idea was soon knocked on the head, and a cow shed was converted into a workshop with tools soon arriving, including a very large lathe, courtesy of Nigel Bowman. By the 1980s the now substantial locomotive collection was dubbed ‘Collection X’ in the book Steam’ 82, with the warning, “anyone wishing to see
Anyone wishing to see the engines would be escorted from the premises at the end of a shotgun
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Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
the engines would be escorted from the premises at the end of a shotgun”! While the author obviously employed poetic licence, there was a grain of truth and the ‘Collection X’ tag has stuck. Peter could not stand people who looked, but did nothing, so those who sought the engines for the sake of seeing them were not greeted well. He did not suffer fools gladly, and if he took a dislike to someone it wasn’t long before the door was shown. However, people who did things, such as restored engines or offered leads to other
locomotives, were made most welcome. Engineering fascinated Peter, particularly the amazing achievements of engineers from previous generations. He spent hours researching and re-creating details within the workshop, and was never more proud than when he, or a member of staff, managed to create something matching the perfection of the past. Time spent on the big lathe or in the sawmill was the highlight of any week, offering escape from the humdrum of normal farming, and the chance to show his considerable engineering and woodworking talents. Peter really wanted his own railway. He drew up and started to lay one on the farm, but this was never really going to suffice. He started looking at derelict and abandoned lines such as the Lynton and Barnstaple to see if reopening was possible. Nigel Bowman had started developing the Launceston Steam
Peter Rampton admires Hunslet 0-4-0ST Sybil (owned by Tony Hills) in June 1980 during the first week of operating the newly opened Brecon Mountain Railway. Page 7
Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
Railway in Cornwall and Peter wanted to follow suit. Around this time a letter arrived, followed by a phone call, from Tony Hills. Tony was running a restoration company at Llanberis amid the closed Dinorwic quarries in North Wales, but had been collecting engines with a view to starting a railway. His approach was to see if they had a shared goal, which of course they did. A firm friendship was born which lasted until Tony’s death in August 2015. After looking at many sites, they chose a section of the former standard-gauge Brecon to Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway, which had finally closed in 1964. The partnership included Peter supplying rails from the former Longmoor Railway in Hampshire, which he had lifted with John Britton, and Tony supplying the locomotives and building the carriages. The 2ft-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway opened in June 1980, and despite many challenges it flourished, Peter and Tony’s friendship carrying it through any troubled times. “The Brecon”, as Peter called it, formed a favourite trip in his AC car, Peter seeing just how quickly he could get there from Surrey and setting a record he was sure still stands! `The Brecon’ did not stop the collecting of locomotives. Soon engines started arriving from India along with more from Africa. Then, in 1988, came the momentous news that British Railways was to sell the 2ft gauge, and still steam-
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worked, Vale of Rheidol Railway. A prospectus from Lazards arrived in the post, and Peter and Tony headed for Aberystwyth. Peter was reluctant, but Tony remarked that it was, “not every day a proper narrow gauge railway comes up for sale”. Together, the pair bought the Vale of Rheidol Railway in April 1989 and set about getting the line ship-shape. Little did Peter know what was to come, for it would take another 30 years and many millions of pounds to bring it back to its former glory. It is a testament to the drive of both men that they overcame the many challenges. Peter would often comment about the sheer level of destruction that Nationalisation, in the form of British Railways, had wrought upon the Vale
Not every day a proper narrow gauge railway comes up for sale
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Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
of Rheidol Railway, the reason why he would never allow the locomotives to be turned out in BR livery, with any mention of the `British Rail era’ being met with scorn. Both Vale of Rheidol (VoR) and Brecon Mountain Railways (BMR) lived a happy existence, assisting each other with engineering and operational challenges. In 1991, Peter and Tony appointed manager Neil Thompson to operate the Rheidol as the strain of two railways began to show. Tony then focused his efforts on the growing Brecon business. Peter was determined to secure a long-term future for his locomotive and carriage collection, so when his father passed away he used some of his inheritance to set up the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust (PRNGRT) with like minded trustees, including his sister Ann and friend Derek Hurlock,
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the trust deriving its name from his late mother. PRNGRT’s goals are restoration of items in Peter’s collection for display and operation and, of course, collecting more locomotives at risk of scrapping. The trust also allowed Peter to indulge another area in which he had considerable talent, investment. He set about building a portfolio of stocks and shares to ensure the long term survival of the engines and provide a fund to improve the railway. Ironically, this would produce a shift in another direction. PRNGRT had used some of its funds to buy the VoR and had helped with other items within the collection. Until this point Brecon and VoR had been normal commercial companies, but the charity commission disapproved of investment of funds in non-charitable companies. Something had to be done.
Narrow Gauge’s Man of Mystery A tribute by Robert Gambrill
The outcome was Peter parting company with the BMR and taking sole ownership of the VoR. Vale of Rheidol Railway Ltd became a stand alone charity in its own right with all the locomotives bought by PRNGRT being transferred to VoR ownership. Separation of the railways ownerships in 1991 did not dim Peter and Tony’s friendship, with many happy phone calls to discuss important engineering challenges continuing. As chairman of the Vale of Rheidol, Peter set about his vision of rebuilding the line in homage to the Great Western Railway, seeing the intermediate stations reinstated, an impressive engineering workshop built and, naturally, working towards achieving construction of his beloved museum. Amid all this, Peter was indulging another great passion: medieval buildings. He had bought an adjoining farm in 1968, which had a rather run down Surrey Hall House, dating from the l2th century. The house had suffered two fires and numerous poor additions so Peter set about bringing it back to life, his goal being to see it restored using timber from the farm, using skills and techniques employed when the building was originally constructed. He added his own details, many with railway links, and meticulously managed the restoration over many years, deploying an astonishing level of detail. The home provides further testament to an interesting man. Locomotives continued to be collected, with examples from every continent, and includes many unique survivors. Now standing at 40, it ranks among the largest collections in the world,
supplemented by carriages and rolling stock of equal importance. It forms a unique time capsule that will inspire future generations, constituting one man’s amazing legacy from a life lived to the full. Peter’s vision for the future will be maintained. He has left many plans yet to be achieved, together with a team dedicated to ultimately fulfilling his ambitions. Anyone who knew, worked for, or met Peter found a man driven to preserve, achieve and maintain his remarkable projects. He genuinely changed many lives and helped many people, and did it without creating fuss. A true gentleman of the old school, with a sharp wit and gentle manner, he was one of our country’s wonderful eccentrics who we will all miss. I count myself lucky to have classed Peter as a fiend. Encountering such an amazing and unique character will live with me the ever, ‘lost but not forgotten’, to coin a phrase. Rest in peace old friend.
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Our General Manager & Director Remembers A recollection by Llŷr Ap Iolo
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started working at the railway in the early 90s as a fireman during the summer break from college, and first worked with Peter in the mid 90s when I became Assistant Manager and Chief Engineer for the VoR. In 2004 I left the railway and became self employed, this was quite a hard decision at the time, but I wanted to run my own engineering and restoration business. Peter was very encouraging and advised me what to do and kept in touch from then on. Later I was contracted by the VoR to work on various engineering jobs, one of these in 2011 was to convert the engines from oil to coal burning, developing and fitting all the spark arresting systems to enable it to work as efficiently as possible, No 8 was the first to be converted and ran without any problems in March 2012. Peter was very pleased as he always wanted to see the locomotives back burning coal, especially as oil was 3 times the price of coal! Saving money did please him! Later that year I was asked to work full time for the railway as Chief Engineer/Acting General Manager and in 2013 took on the Manager’s position full time. Peter was very encouraging through those years and his drive got me to where I am today. I was very proud to have been able to work for him in this role. Peter would never call me by my nickname
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Shad, but insisted I was called Shadrack! (I still don’t know why!) Occasionally I would visit him in Surrey where he would invite me in for tea and cake… he was very fond of cake! He never used a kettle and always boiled the water in a saucepan. We would regularly chat on a Saturday Morning on the phone, often little about the railway as was the intention, but about farming, cars, politics, or whatever topic for the week that came about. He took me under his wing and I am privileged to have been a part of his dream and watch the railway prosper over the last 7 years. Of recent years I would ring him on Christmas Day, as I knew he would be home alone, he didn’t like Christmas day at all, and he would reply “What the F***K do you want, I was out cutting wood, it’s Christmas Day”!, this made me chuckle, we would then have a humorous chat for a while, even though he was a bit eccentric he had a unique personality. I will miss Peter dearly, but it gives me great pleasure to know that I have been involved in Peter’s vision for the railway and as a Director and Manager of the railway I am in a position continue to make his dream become reality.
Llyr (centre) and staff remember Peter with a wreath displayed on the service train Page 11
Company Directors Reminisce
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Recollections by Phillip Ellis
got to know Peter Rampton when I was working for the Council and we managed to get European Union funding for replacing much of the rails between Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge. He was fun to deal with; jokes, profanity and generally shocking but very competent. When I left the Council he asked me to join the Railway as a non-executive director despite my ignorance of historic railways and I soon got involved in the restoration of the halts and gardens up the line. We had long telephone conversions, always amusing, and usually about agriculture, nature and gardening with some profanity thrown in.
We were both very keen to grow Mount Etna broom, Genista aetnensis, an attractive shrub or small tree with yellow flowers. He was given some by Christopher Lloyd, owner of the famous gardens at Great Dixter, which died. I was given some seedlings here by the president of the Cardiganshire Horticultural Society, David Corfield, which had hardly survived. However in the year of Peter’s death, the best seedling has flowers and actually turned into a very small shrub so will be planted with the Chilean flame trees and Azaleas at Devil’s Bridge station this autumn. Page 12
Company Directors Reminisce
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Recollections by Clive Higgs
y first meeting with Peter Rampton was unusual. Norah and I had worked for some years as weekend volunteers helping Philip to set up and maintain the gardens at the VORR central stations and Nantyronen. Peter’s one-day annual visits from Surrey never met us when we were working. In summer 2015 the new stations, platforms and gardens were finished thanks to a Welsh Assembly fund. A special train was to carry the VIPs, press and railway folk along the line and Peter agreed to give a speech at the formal opening of Aberffrwd Station. I worked at home nearby and was late when running to the station for the ceremony. Too late for the train’s arrival, I gasped up the hill to see the back of Peter, holding a stuffed gannet and speaking to an extremely interested crowd. The faces were a picture! As I was running, some young neighbours had cycled past me and sidled behind the station to join the audience watching Peter and his gannet. News travels fast in Cwm Rheidol! Worried in case I was in Peter’s background in any video and the traffic jam of people behind the station, I moved away. All later contact with Peter was very interesting and friendly, even when he was incisive at meetings. We first met face to face in summer 2016 when the railway was considering making me a non-executive director. We met at Devil’s Bridge station on his one day visit to inspect the line and Aberystwyth workshop with the directors and chair an AGM. After his long drive, Peter was friendly when we met and there was no interview; the fascinating day
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began straightaway. The trip down the line in the Permaquip was very businesslike with Peter stopping at places of interest, especially where work had been done or was planned. These places included where the view had been improved or could be improved. (Peter was keen to increase the railway’s view of the valley as much as possible from the British Rail days when trains travelled in a green tunnel of trees for most of the way.) John was driving and had to give a reminder that we had to get to the Aberffrwd siding to allow the Devil’s Bridge train to pass on time. After that, the journey continued at a slower pace as the level crossings were assessed as well. After a happy inspection of the workshop’s work it was getting late for an AGM and Peter and Rob Gambrill to drive back to Surrey and beyond. I dreaded an indecisive drawnout affair like past meetings when working for a MOD contractor (when hours were spent debating whether to use “shall” or “will” in the next draft of a requirements specification) But Peter was the chairman and I’d never seen such a decisive, fast-paced and positive meeting, apart from a few stray comments about politicians! The meeting dealt with all the matters in the agenda, some very important. Thank goodness I hadn’t dressed too formally. Later, in Surrey, Peter expressed his disgust at a pair of accountants tottering out of a top-range Mercedes in top-range suits. He obviously thought they would try to overcharge and I was glad not to be at that meeting. That set the pattern for the next 3 years. When Norah and I made working visits to
Don’t go inside! I looked at my oily hands and didn’t touch the dazzling door handle
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Surrey, Peter proudly showed his steam locomotives crammed inside, ready for restoration and the magnificent Isle of Mann first class carriage he was rebuilding with Rob Bance - without electric tools. Even its carpet would outclass a palace. “Don’t go inside!” I looked at my oily hands and didn’t touch the dazzling door handle. The carriage was a contrast to Peter’s massive bandsaw, that could hold and slice his long oak tree trunks lengthways. Peter was very proud of it as an example of brilliant past engineering and of buying it so cheaply from a closing saw mill. He had used it a lot, but hadn’t improved its access down a huge step with loose bricks falling from its brink. What a place! He had saved and preserved so much brilliant past engineering that would have been lost and forgotten.
Besides the drive and the expertise and knowledge in narrow gauge railways, the VORR, past engineering and sound finance, Peter could be a kind man. After Norah was diagnosed with advanced motor neurone disease Peter brought up the subject and advised I needed to look after myself as well. After Norah died I needed to bring Susie the spaniel with me on visits to Surrey. At one time it was too hot to leave her sleeping in the car and I asked Peter if I could bring her inside his beloved workshop. Yes, fine. As we sat drinking mugs of tea, Peter suggested I let Susie off her lead and after inspecting the workshop for dropped food she went to Peter. He enjoyed stroking her and her wagging tail and seemed a bit forlorn when he said he’d never had dogs as an adult.
Our Staff Recollect
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A recollection by John Baber, Permanent Way Team Leader
hen I think about the time I have spent with Peter it was always as part of my permanent way duties, driving the line’s Permaquip vehicle to enable a track inspection to take place. Peter used to visit annually to do a track inspection and I used to accompany him, along with other VoR directors from time to time. He was always a pleasant man, very matter of fact and railway focused. He was rarely on time and almost always caused delays to service trains during our track inspections, as he wanted to learn as much about the work
Then & Now
completed and work in planning as he could, often spending longer than he had looking at the sections of our line. His number one priority during our inspections was always focused on improving the views for the passengers. The current views are a massive improvement from when I joined the railway in 1990 when it was virtually a green tunnel between Aberffrwd and Devil’s Bridge, this work improving the views is all down to Peter’s desire to open them up as much as possible. Peter’s other concern was crossing safety, he was very interested improving sighlines and in any near misses that we could learn from to improve our safety. I remember one particular occasion he had called to arrange meeting at Aberystwyth Station to complete a track walk and explore oportunities to open up more views. He said he would drive us to Devil’s Bridge in his car, I got rather excited at this prospect with thought of travelling in style in one of his AC Cars, so was highly dissapointed when the next day he turned up in a hired Fiat Panda to pick me up. Alas, Rest in Peace Mr Rampton. Page 14
Peter’s vision ... One of Peter’s ambitions was to see the three engines in steam together in the livery that they were delivered when new, this was realised in October 2018 when No.7 returned to steam. Photo: Andrew Simmonds
Picture
Devil’s Bridge 1974
Devil’s Bridge 2018
Gallery
British Railways Ownership
Brecon Mountain Railway Ownership
Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust Ownership
Our Staff Recollect
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A recollection by Sandra Evans
first met Peter Rampton in 1992 along with Liz Knight to use Sage when he walked into the Ticket accounts when it was transferred Office carrying a large heavy to Aberystwyth as he reckoned he decorated flower pot and was getting too old to be My asked if I would take care dealing with everything! of it for a few days. So I that I often spoke name is After placed it in the cupboard with him over the phone for safekeeping when Mr Rampton especially so when we he looked at me with were running trains where and I own he wanted to know what a sullen face and said “please do not place traffic (passengers) was the bloody the anything in the pot as I like at the Rheidol today. paid a lot of money for Mr Rampton was a railway! the damn thing”! private gentleman with On another occasion he turned up a dry sense of humor and certainly at the Railway and parked in the one of a kind! I was fortunate to have car park when one of of our staff been invited to attend the funeral at members who had never met him Surrey to celebrate his life and listen said “sorry you can’t park there as it to numerous stories by his family is private” to which he replied that and colleagues and he is going to be “my name is Mr Rampton and I own missed by all who knew him. the bloody railway”! Rest in Peace Mr Rampton. Mr Rampton also taught me
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Our Staff Recollect Tales from those who met him
The First thing he said to me: “Are you sure you want to work here? It’s like nothing you have ever been involved in before”. And it wasn’t!’
- Geraint Robert, VoR Booking Office Manager
I remember Peter Rampton for his humour, when I was working at the Surrey site where I began working with the railway, we were using a large saw to turn tree trunks into wood panels, as we got ready to start the saw he turned to me and said; “If I fall in make sure to switch it off”.
- Barney Rampton, VoR Fireman & Guard
“When I first met Peter, I must admit I was slightly nervous. For many years I had heard the tales and rumours that surrounded the collection and workshops in Surrey. Working as the railway’s archivist I spent many hours with Peter; during our discussions he would ask me my opinions about various things and our shared interests. At the beginning he seemed quiet and reserved but as time progressed he became more chatty and open about his exploits with saving locomotives from across the world, starting the Brecon Mountain Railway and of course the purchase and rebuilding of the Vale of Rheidol. His stories were often fascinating and told in his own unique manner. Peter’s attention to detail was very high and he had assembled a large library of books, drawings and photographs covering the history of the Vale of Rheidol Railway and his own collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Almost every day I worked with him he would ask if I had found any further items appertaining to the collection locomotives or rolling stock, as he was always keen to strengthen his knowledge. Peter will be sadly missed by all of us.”
- Rob Bance, VoR Archivist
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Collection X The name collection X was originally assigned to the list of engines in the book ‘Steam Past - Steam 82’ which set out to list all the surviving steam engines from around the world in the various collections they were in. The collections without a name were assigned a letter and the VoR Collection and Peter Rampton Collection were assigned the letter X, however prior to printing the collections were put in order of location with these engines located in Surrey. The list was also inaccurate with the fact that they had combined two collections within one. Though all the engines on this list, Peter Rampton was directly involved in saving.
1. A Borsig 0-4-OWT 5913/1908-1ft 11⅝ in (600mm) ex-Sobemai N V Maldegam
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2. Société Anglo-Franco-Belge SAR NG15 2-82+ tender 2668/1951 2ft (610mm) 3. De Winton 0-4-0 VBT 106/1877 Kathleen 1ft 10¾in (578mm) ex-Penrhyn
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4. Decauville 0-4-0T 1027/1926 ‘Progress 5T’ type 1ft 11½in (597mm) 5. Falcon ‘NG6’ Class ‘Lawley’ F4 Type 4-4-0+tender 265/1897 2ft (610mm) exBeira Railway 6. Falcon ‘NG6’ Class ‘Lawley’ F4 Type 4-4-0+tender Lisboa 266/1897 2ft (610mm) ex-Beira Railway
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7. Fowler 0-6-0+tender 10249/1905 lft 11¾in (603mm) ex-CSR Fiji 8. Fowler 0-4-2T 11938/1909 1ft 11⅝ in (600mm) ex-Sena Sugar 9. Fowler 0-6-2T 15515/1920 1ft 11⅝in (600mm) ex-Sena Sugar Page 21
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11 10. Hudswell, Clarke 4wDM D564/1930 2ft (610mm) ex-Beswicks Lime Works 11. Hunslet 0-4-0ST 605/1894 Margaret lft 11¾in (603mm)
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12. Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0T ‘Wren’ 3114/1918 1ft 11⅝in (600mm) 13. Kerr, Stuart 0-6-4T PL Class Parlakimidi Light Railway No. 695, 4408/1928 2ft 6in (762mm)
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14. Maffei 0-8-0+tender’Brigadelok’DFB No. 968/No.31 4766/1916 lft 11½in (597mm)
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15. North British 4-6-2T South Eastern Railway (India)/Parlakimidi Light Railway No.666 17111/1906 2ft 6in (762mm) 16. Ruston Proctor 4wPM (paraffin mechanical) 51168/1916 3ft 3⅜in (1000 mm) ex-Cotton Power Company
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17. Sabero 0-6-0T (built 1937) Hulleras de Sabero No. 6 La Herrera lft 11⅝in (600mm) 18. W G Bagnall 0-4-4T 2228/19242k (610 mm) 19 No. 18BG ex-Kowloon Tramway, Sha Tau Kok & Victoria Milling 19. W G Bagnall 0-6-2T 2192/1922 Conqueror 2ft 6in (762mm) ex-Bowaters Paper and Whipsnade
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20. W G Bagnall 2-6-2T Katwa Indian Railways No. AK16 2029/1916 2ft 6in (762 mm) Page 22
Collection X 21. W G Bagnall 4-6-2+ tender Western Railway 22 (India) No.38 765 2457/1932 2ft (610 mm) 22. W G Bagnall 4-6-2+ tender Western Railway (India) No.41 762 2460/1932 2ft (610 mm) 23. A Borsig 0-6-2T Hulleras de Sabero No.7 Sotillos 6022/1906 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 24. Avonside Heisler-type 0-4-4-0T Renishaw No.4 2057/1931 600mm (1ft 11⅝in)
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25. Couillet 0-6-OT Hulleras de Sabero No. 1 Sabero 1140/1895 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 26. Couillet 0-6-OT Hulleras de Sabero No. 2 Sahelices 1209/1898 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 27. Couillet 0-6-OT Hulleras de Sabero No. 3 Olleros 1318/1900 600mm (1ft 11⅝in)
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28. Dick Kerr 4wDE No 18 built 1918 600mm (lft 11⅝in) 29. Hanomag NG13 Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2T SAR No.82 10634/1928 600mm (1ft 11⅝in)
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30. Henschel & Sohn 0-4-2T Hulleras de Sabero No. 102 16043/1918 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 31. Henschel & Sohn 0-4-2T Hulleras de Sabero No. 101 16073/1918 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 32. Henschel & Sohn 0-4-0T Hulleras de Sabero No. 103 16045/1918 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) Page 23
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Collection X 33. Hudswell, Clarke 0-4-2ST Hullera VascoLeonesa SA Matallana No 5 Santa Ana 640/1902 550mm
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34. W G Bagnall 0-4-2T Rustenberg Platinum Mines No. 2 2895/1948 2ft (610 mm) 35. W G Bagnall 0-4-4-0T (Meyer) Renishaw Sugar Mills No.5 2545/1936 600mm (1ft 11⅝in) 36. NG15 2-8-2 SAR No.121 (1ft 11⅝in)
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37. NG15 2-8-2 SAR No.146 (1ft 11⅝in) 38. Orenstein & Koppel Mallet 0-4-4-0 3770/1909 39. Bagnall 0-6-0 diesel 3124/1957 40. Henschel & Sohn Bogie Tender (designed to run with Feldbahn locomotives)11854/1925 1ft 11½in (597 mm)
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41. Isle of Man carriage ‘F68’(built Metropolitan) 42. Isle of Man carriage ‘N51’(built Swansea Carriage & Wagon)
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43. Isle of Man carriage ‘F6’(built Brown Marshall) 44. Isle of Man carriage ‘F38’(built Hurst Nelson) 45. Isle of Man carriage ‘N40’(built Swansea Carriage & Wagon)
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46. Hulleras de Sabero Directors’ Saloon (The engines with red numbers in the list are part of the VoR Collection) Page 24
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Improving the VoR
hen the VoR was put on the market by the British Railways Board (BRB), Mr Rampton and Mr Hills requested a sales catalogue from Lazard Brothers & co, who were chosen to act as a sales agent on behalf of BR. Initially Mr Rampton was allegedly a little skeptical about purchasing the line but his friend Mr Hills was adamant that it would be a good investment. After a visit to survey the line and its assets the two of them decided to make an offer and were chosen by BRB as the successful bidders. When the Railway was first privatised during 1989 the line and it’s assets were rather in need of a little TLC. Only one steam locomotive (No.7) and four carriages were serviceable, there were no loops at Capel Bangor or Aberffrwd and the trackwork needed investment to bring it up to standard. So with this in mind the gentlemen set to work. A tamper was bought for the line, from a gold mine in South Africa, to aid the process of improving the standard of the trackwork along with the creation of a dedicated permanent way team for the line. One of the steam engines (No.9) was sent to the Brecon Mountain Railway for overhaul, and work began to bring the carriage fleet up to standard. While the trackwork was being brought up to standard Mr Rampton began looking at improving the line by opening up the views from the train, particularly in the top sections of our line. This desire was to become a continuous topic during each of his visits to the line, spending time with the permanent way team discussing the where the views could be improved. Several patches of our line run through areas of special scientific interest, so tree felling would not be permitted in these areas, and they would left to flourish and develop, providing homes for much of the wildlife seen from our trains. The areas that have been opened though provide excellent views of the scenic valley below and the afore
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Improving the VoR mentioned wildlife, Mr Rampton personally buying land adjacent to the railway as it came available in order to achieve this aim. A further priority to developing the line was the reinstallation of the loops at Capel Bangor & Aberffrwd to increase the operational flexibility of the line. The loop at Aberffrwd was reinstated soon after privatisation, however the loop at Capel Bangor was not relayed until 2001. Further work to improve the stations took place during 2012 with the construction of a new station building, a replica of the original, and platform at Capel Bangor. Other intermediate stations on the line were also improved during 2013 with platforms and replica buildings being built at Nantyronen, Aberffrwd, Rhiwfron & Rheidol Falls. Whilst work was being done to improve the intermediate stations the two termini were not forgotten. Devil’s Bridge station was also improved with the addition of a raised platform
Photo Š John Lucas (cc-by-sa/2.0)
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Improving the VoR and the laying of a demonstration line for our driver for a fiver programme. A platform was also built at Aberystwyth, on the site of the former standard gauge platform that served the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen Branch, this was opened in time for the 2014 season. During the work to improve the stations on our line, work also got underway to upgrade the engineering and maintenance facilities with the construction of a brand new workshop. The new workshop building was completed during 2012, and the engineering team began fully utilising the facility during 2014. As part of the construction of the new building an apprenticeship was started under the banner ‘Our past is their future’, this programme has seen 4 apprentices fully trained so far with another 2 having been recruited in September 2019. The training has been delivered using both engines from our own fleet and engines with us for contract overhaul, providing the skills of the past for generations of the future. The latest project that the railway is mid way through involves the development of our Aberystwyth site under the banner ‘Wales to the World’. Mr Rampton was driven by a desire to save some of the world’s most amazing locomotives, and scoured the planet to find them. Whilst others were scrapped he saved as many as he could, giving us the most amazing collection to display. The project to develop our Aberystwyth site is a £2.2 million project and is split into phases, the first of which has been completed, the construction of a new accessible platform and a toilet building to an authentic design. The project also allows for the building of a new 400ft 3 road carriage shed to store and protect our rolling stock including future museum exhibits. There will also be the Page 27
Improving the VoR
building of a new shop and booking office with a large display space for products. The final part of our project is the restoration of the original standard gauge engine shed to convert it into a display space allowing for locomotives and stock from our collection to be put on public display for the first time. In the future a bigger new museum is in the planning, utilising the pier supports obtained from London Bridge Railway station to build the super structure of the new building. Realising a dream of Mr Rampton’s to one day be able to display the extensive collection in an appropriate environment. Some of the collection will also be restored to working order over time bringing the exhibits back to life on our line. There are many more examples of the hard work and dedication that Mr Rampton applied in all aspects of his life, here are just a few.
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His Legacy
egacy is an often over-used word, but in Peter’s case it definitely isn’t! During his life, he set about constructing a future for items which were otherwise destined for the scrap heap or demolition. His single-handed determination to save and restore items which others effectively wished to throw away, makes him unique in the UK. Many people saved items, but very few then set up charities to insure the long-term survival of them. Even fewer then funded these charities to make sure this process could go on for ever, if properly managed. The Charities that Peter founded; the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust and the Vale of Rheidol Railway, stand testament to a man with amazing foresight for safeguarding the future of the collection he amassed. Anyone who has visited the railway recently cannot fail to see his ambition for it to be returned to its Great Western splendour. Peter leaves behind a less tangible legacy; built into both charities is the word “education”. This is contained within the trust deeds of both charities. Since 2009 the railway has been actively encouraging young people to get involved, culminating in the current apprentice program which sees the training of five young people in various skills and trades. This goal of driving youngsters to join the charity has been a feature of the railway and holds the key to its long term survival. These young people are the embodiment of Peters real legacy, as they will enjoy the skills learnt on the Railway for many years to come, and hopefully, share them with the next generation coming through. A Cinderella subject for most railways is the lineside, often over looked, but in Peter’s eyes vital to the railway. Without his drive to acquire the lower side of the Rheidol Valley, many of the views would be excluded to our visitors. Peter managed, through gentle acquisition, to acquire most of the woodland that used to obscure the views from the trains during the BR period. This investment will provide views for passengers for many years to come, and all thanks to Peter’s forward thinking. The new station project in Aberystwyth is an area in which Peter was working towards some 20 years ago. He had the foresight to acquire enough land from the local council to see that the railway could develop what will be one of the
His Legacy world’s most amazing railway museums. This is only possible thanks to Peter’s forward thinking. Once completed, it will show the outside world just what Peter achieved to save some amazing railway heritage. Houses for most people are somewhere to live and bring up a family. Peter however, obviously wanted to do something different, so set about rebuilding a 12th century hall. This house was to him a culmination of a lifetimes ideas and effort to see it restored to its former glory. He researched every small detail and rebuilt the house over 20 years to what it is today. This Includes an amazing fire place and stained glass windows. It will remain Peters greatest legacy, which hopefully we will be able to show everyone in due course. The house sits ultimately where his heart laid in the middle of his Surrey estate. Its panoramic views encompass the land he loved, something he never tired of. Farming was his lifelong passion; the well-kept fields are credit to his endeavours. Peter saved many Steam locomotives and carriages from around the world. These are destined for our future Museum. Once complete, this museum will house a unique and fascinating collection of equipment un-paralleled in the world, but he did much more than this. You only need to ask any of the staff that worked for him. A man who left his mark and really did elevate peoples lives. Not many men boast a legacy of such stature and diversity! Robert Gambrill CEO Vale of Rheidol Railway 2019
Photo courtesy Indigo Swift
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Telephone us: 01970 625 819 - Park Avenue, Aberystwyth SY23 1PG Regular steam train services running throughout the year