Bagnall locomotive “Armistice” of 1919 has been acquired by Rob Ellis of Bressingham Steam Museum, and is likely to be transferred to the Norfolk museum from the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway before the end of the year..
Armistice was ordered for the Ministry of Munitions in 1918, but completed after the end of the Great War and delivered instead to the Tame and Rea Water Board near Birmingham. After passing through several owners from the 1960s, the locomotive arrived at Bredgar in the 1991 and has resided there ever since. The locomotive is currently at the end of its ten year boiler certificate.
Rob Ellis stated “I am delighted to be able to acquire Armistice and bring her to live at Bressingham. Our intention is to take her through the ten-yearly overhaul and move her to the operating roster in 2026. Bressingham Steam Museum and the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway have a lot of history together*, and we have strengthened our relationship over recent years including visits to the 2025 Bressingham Gala by BWLR locomotives Bicknor and Eigau.”
Notes for Editors:
*BWLR locomotives ex-Pehrhyn O&K Eigiau and O&K Helga both spent time under the care of Alan Bloom at Bressingham before making their way to the Bredgar in Kent in the 1990s.
The move of Armistice to Bressingham brings the 2’ gauge locomotive fleet up to 8 (5 steam and 3 diesels).
Bressingham Steam Museum is operated by the Bressingham Steam Preservations Trust and is located near Diss in Norfolk and attracts more than 70,000 visitors per year.
Locomotive Armistice was completed as works number 2088 by Bagnall of Stafford in 1919. It was ordered by the Ministry of Munitions the previous year to assist with the war effort, but was not needed at the cessation of hostilities. As such, it was subsequently supplied to the Tame and Rea District Drainage Board where it worked with “sister” locomotive 2087 until the 1960’s. Both locomotives were saved for preservation with 2088 acquiring the name Lady Luxborough for a short time. The locomotive was extensively overhauled upon arrival at the BWLR in 1991 and the originally intended name “Armistice” was finally bestowed upon it.
Armistice is a standard Bagnall 30 HP machine with bullhead (marine) firebox, 6” x 9” cylinders, weighing in at around 5 1/2 tonnes.
