Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway ICL No.4 'Perkins'

Perkins is an 4w-4 diesel locomotive from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
==History==
Perkins has had a long career. Its frames date from 1929 and are from one of the Muir-Hill tractors which were ordered to handle the stone trains. The tractor was later given a stabiising bogie and a mock steam-outline body to make it more suitable for passenger services as well as quarry trains. It gained the nickname ‘Pretender’ in this form. In 1975 the original TVO Fordson tractor engine was replaced by a Perkins P6 diesel. In 1984 it was rebuilt again, this time with a new body and cab in the form of an industrial diesel, and was officially named Perkins in 1985. In 1989 it returned to the workshows and was re-engined with a more powerful Perkins engine and twin-disc transmission. The locomotive is generally used on permanent way and winter trains.
== Technical Details ==
=== Real-Life History ===
NG 39 was the second Muir-Hill Fordson tractor to be bought by the railway for quarry traffic. She arrived in 1929, two years after the original tractor, and was rebuilt as a steam-outline diesel 0-4-4 in 1931 for use on passenger trains. In this guise it was named the Passenger Tractor and nicknamed Pretender. She worked through the war and the first passenger services after the end of the conflict.
In 1975, the petrol engine was replaced with a Perkins P6 diesel, giving the loco a modern radiator grill at the front. In 1984, the engine was rebuilt again, however this time she lost her fake steam outline and became similar to an industrial diesel shunter. She was named Perkins in 1985 and was re-engined again in 1990. Her main use is on permanent way trains.
== Liveries ==
Perkins is currently painted yellow and black. Perkins was briefly painted in Frank's grey livery for Days Out with Thomas events. Until 1984 she was painted mid-green with yellow lining.
== Trivia ==
* Frank from Thomas & Friends is based on this diesel locomotive.
== Gallery ==
File:Perkins2.png
File:PerkinsasFrank.png
File:Frank.jpg|The Reverend Wilbert Awdry depicted the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway ICL No.4 'Perkins' as Frank in The Railway Series: Jock the New Engine
File:Perkins14.jpg
File:PerkinsAsPassenger Tractor1951.jpg
File:Perkins12.jpg
File:Perkins16.jpg
File:PerkinsOverhaul.jpg
Category:United Kingdom
Category:Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:Diesel switchers
Category:Built in 1929
Category:Article stubs
Category:15-inch gauge
Category:Miniature locomotives
Category:Minimum Gauge
Category:Locomotives
Category:B locomotives
Category:Rebuilds
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Preserved diesel locomotives