The Mclaren 8NHP (number 1713 of 1922), known as ‘General French’, travelled through: Burgess Hill via Isaccs Lane, Haywards Heath High street, Scaynes Hill and North Chailey. Then it went along the A275 past the Bluebell railway at Sheffield Park, though Chelwood Gate and on to Pippingford Park. Visit www.highwealdsteam.co.uk.
The engine was making its way to the High Weald Steam Working Weekend (Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16).
A spokesperson on the event’s Facebook page said General French hauled their heavy load for this year’s ‘play pen’. They said: “The boiler is from the Merchant Navy class railway loco ‘Brocklebank Line’, which is kindly on loan to us from the SLL – Southern Locomotives Ltd.” They said it demonstrated ‘how it was done over 100 years ago’.
The High Weald Steam Working Weekend features: steam engines, vintage commercial vehicles, tractors, military vehicles, classic cars and more.
1. General French
A vintage steam engine was seen slowly hauling a heavy load though Burgess Hill on Wednesday, June 12Photo: Eddie Mitchell
2. General French
A vintage steam engine was seen slowly hauling a heavy load though Burgess Hill on Wednesday, June 12Photo: Eddie Mitchell