5th May 1991

The man forever associated with the East Somerset railway was artist David Shepherd. For a short while a short length of 3ft gauge track was placed in the former bitumen sidings to allow his Rhodesia Railways 4-8-0 steam locomotive no. 390, plus a matching bogie coach to be placed on display. These had been donated to him through his connections in Africa. Then loco was built by Sharp Stewart & Co, Glasgow, in 1896 for the Cape Government Railway. After being displayed here at Cranmore the loco and coach were moved to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, but David Shepherd eventually donated them to the National Railway Museum and the loco, at least, has now found a home at Locomotion, Shildon.