Hudswell-Clarke No.1544 ‘Slough Estates Ltd No. 3’

1544 was built in 1924 as the first new locomotive to be acquired by the Slough Trading Co who had a fleet of second hand locomotives. It worked shunting wagons between the mainline sidings and the various factories on the estate in addition to moving wagons of coal and later oil to the estate power station. 

It originally wore a blue livery with white lining and the name ‘Slough Trading Estate 3’ painted along the side of the tank and cab. It was later repainted into a green livery with white lining with the name ‘Slough Estates Ltd No.3’ painted on the tank. It was the favourite loco of the estate always being turned out immaculately.

In 1939 No.3 was joined by a newly built Hudswell Clarke of the same design which became ‘Slough Estates Ltd No.5’. Both were kept in superb condition despite being the two main locomotives in constant use. As such, when the estates railway closed in 1973, both No.3 and No.5 were preserved. No.3 was preserved at the Mid-Hants Railway and No.5 at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway. 

Upon arrival at the Mid-Hants work commenced with the removal of the boiler, the firebox and the overhauling the chassis. With larger locomotives more suited to the line soon arriving work was halted. It remained in a disassembled state until 1986 when the Slough And Windsor Railway Society took over the care of No.3. It wasn’t until 1992 that all the parts were moved to Slough for restoration to be undertaken. An enforced move meant it moved to the Swindon And Cricklade Railway where undercover overhaul facilities were available. After much work, including having major boiler work completed at Billingshurst, No.3 returned to operation in 2000.

After a decade of being the main operations steam locomotive of the S&CR it was withdrawn from service in 2009. It was soon contractually overhauled by Statfold Barn near Tamworth returning to service in December 2009. In November 2011, No.3 was placed on long term loan to the Middleton Railway. It was regularly used until withdrawal in April 2021. 

Less than a year after withdrawal the overhaul of No.3 started and is ongoing. This overhaul has included major work on the bottom half and tank in additional to the full replacement of the front frame stretcher due to the original becoming cracked. It is the main locomotive currently under overhaul.