Maldegem 030514 Paddy

Maldegem station, May 3rd 2014

Maldegem station is unique in being the only station in Belgium having both standard and narrow gauge tracks - and there was plenty of action on the narrow gauge tracks as well!  While the museum has an extensive collection of narrow gauge locomotives of its own, the Steam Festival saw all of the narrow gauge operations performed by visiting locomotives.

"Paddy" is a unique locomotive.  Her quaint and antiquated looks are rather misleading - contrary to what one would think, she is only 6 years old!  Owned by the Amerton Railway in Staffordshire, UK, "Paddy" was built in 2008 with parts of various steam-powered machines, which partly explains her 'cobbled together' looks.  Her boiler originally was part of a steam-powered crane, while her transmission was formerly used on a steam-powered hammer.