AMONG the thousands of tons of steelwork and equipment left to rust at the bottom of Forest pits were two unique old locomotives.

The engines were Hudswell Clarke 68hp's and both were abandoned when the Princess Royal Colliery was finally allowed to flood in 1962. They had been used in the Whitecroft pit from 1953.

Now members of a group restoring a similar engine they hope to use on a narrow guage railway at Lea Bailey, are seeking information about the Princess Royal engines.

"They were abandoned underground when the shafts were filled," says Rob Needham, of Littledean.

"I would like to know if any Review readers know of any photographs of these locos working at Princess Royal. Also, does anyone have any memories of them?

"They were apparently the only locos to work underground at Princess Royal but apart from their identities nothing seems to be known of their life in the Forest," said Mr Needham.

An inaugural meeting to form a Lea Bailey Light Railway Society is to be held at Littledean Leisure Centre on Saturday April 20 (2pm). Mr Needham can be contacted on Dean 823487 and more information about the railway project is on the website http://www.leabaileylightrailway.co.uk">www.leabaileylightrailway.co.uk