. Toot the horn yourself. How a piece of York’s Industrial Heritage was brought back into Motion at Murton. The pivotal point in the story of Rowntrees No.3, (a Ruston Hornsby 88DS), is the rescue from likely “scrappage” to be lovingly restored and proudly return to work along the line, by which many years earlier, No.3, now named Ken Cooke had been working with Rowntrees, the chocolate makers, helping to send that lovely chocolate to the World. In 2018, No. 3’s story became the subject of considerable radio and TV media interest. Standing on No.3 are Glynnis and Tony Frith who adopted the poorly about to be orphaned engine, finding a home for and nursing No.3 back to good health. A YouTube Video by “Lawrie Goes Loco”. Lawrie goes loco over No.3. On Sunday 21st. Nov. 2019, Lawrie came to DVLR and waxed lyrical over No.3. Just listen to his infectious enthusiasm as he extols her virtues. It’s a great introduction to No.3. With Lawrie’s relaxed way, could anyone give her a better introduction? There are details from her history and of her current operation from pre-run checks through start-up to pulling a train down the line here at DVLR. Superlatives all the way! Now, about that 2018 media coverage, mentioned in this webpage’s first paragraph: The Day which started the excitement: Tuesday 5th June. It was an early start for Glynnis & Tony and also for volunteer Tim Webster on Tuesday 5th June because BBC Radio York was coming to interview Glynnis & Tony about the Rowntree No.3 locomotive which they bought to save from being cut up for scrap. Thus Rowntree & Co. Ltd.’s locomotive No.3, Ken Cooke, was the star of the Georgey Spanswick Breakfast Show, Glynnis & Tony’s interview went out live over two slots during show. This involved running No. 3 down the line from the station to the signal box & back. A short video was made which is out on BBC Radio York’s Facebook page. There was that aptly ironic humorous comment from Glynnis about getting a Rowntree’s locomotive instead of a box of chocolates! LOL. Indeed, Rowntrees No.3 has helped to assemble thousands of trains at Rowntrees. Those trains, over many years, carried millions of boxes of chocolates to be enjoyed across the World. Thank you No.3. Listen to the interviews below using player controls below. If you experience any problems with the responsiveness of audio controls embedded in this page, while using this device, then use the buttons to download files first and then listen. 7:20 Listen 8:20 Listen The above photographs are by courtesy of DVLR volunteer, Tim Webster. Tony and Glynnis thank Tim for getting up early to help them out. But the media interest didn’t end there. Later in the same day, Glynnis and Tony received a phone call from the BBC, asking if they could appear on the Johnny I’Anson evening show. They agreed to a telephone interview with Johnny. So at 20:10 they were rung up by the BBC, and had a 5 minutes interview live on the evening show. 20:13 Listen How the now proud Rowntree’s No. 3 was saved from wretched demise. Below is a YouTube video from That’s York TV. Hear Glynnis and Tony Frith in an interview about Rowntrees No.3. o/w Ken Cooke. On the TV, the presenter gave a good lead up to the interview. (The lead up is not shown on the YouTube video.) Some History. Originally delivered to the Rowntree chocolate factory in York in April 1960, the engine became No3. Photographs attrib: Nestlé. (R. R. Darsley collection). See what the contemporary 1960s advertising was like then for one of Rowntree’s leading products, Dairy Box, when Rowntrees No.3 was a fresh-faced newcomer at the factory. Twenty years later in 1980, the locomotive was moved to the Rowntree factory in Fawdon near Newcastle where she was was renumbered to No2. Surplus to requirements in 1987 the engine went into preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and did not see any use on the Moors and was loaned out to the Middleton Railway in Leeds in 1991. In March 2006 the engine was again moved, this time to the National Railway Museum at Shildon, then in 2013, was purchased by DVLR members, Glynnis and Tony in 2013 and moved to Murton, back to where this engine really belonged. “Look after my engine.” The York Normandy Veterans have been coming to Derwent Valley Light Railway on annual visits for some several years now. One of them is Ken Cooke. Ken used to work at the Rowntree cocoa works in York. He would hitch a ride on the locomotives to get around the factory site. On visits to the DVLR, Ken would always say to Glynnis and Tony, "Look after my engine." 19 June 2016. "Rowntrees No.3" gets to share an honorable name. When Glynnis and Tony were looking for a suitable name for the locomotive, what better they thought than Ken Cooke as a fitting tribute to Ken who had received the Legion d' Honneur, France’s highest military honour, in May 2016. So, for the Normandy Veterans annual visit to the Derwent Valley Light Railway in 2016, the nameplate had been fitted and all made ready for Ken himself to unveil. Ken lied about his age so he could fight for his country. He was only a boy of 16 when he joined up. York Veterans, family, friends & six former Rowntree employees witness the unveiling. At the unveiling of the nameplate, Ken was joined by York Veterans, family, friends & six former Rowntree employees who had come along to the naming ceremony to show their support. The DVLR presented the Normandy Veterans with honorary membership to the railway. Veterans & supporters enjoyed a train ride while Ken rode in the cab of the engine. Veterans in the picture, left to right: Ken ‘Smudger’ Smith, George ‘Merry’ Meredith, Albert ‘Bert’ Borritt, Ken ‘Cookey’ Cooke, Dennis ‘Hank’ Haydock. The paintwork restoration, 2017. Glynnis Frith reported on 8 Sept. 2017: “Rowntree’s No.3, Ken Cooke, repainting finished and lettering completed. Here is the all but finished Rowntree No.3, Ken Cooke, only two coats of varnish needed once the rain stops. Our sign writer Mark from Acomb Signs has made a fantastic job & made it look so easy.” In the picture below, left, before the repaint and right, after the repaint, are the very happy Tony & Glynnis Frith, the proud owners, giving the thumbs up. Sunday 24th September 2017. Relaunch of Ken Cooke, Rowntree’s No.3. Glynnis and Tony, having completed the repainting of the locomotive and having had the writing renewed, were ready to show this virtually native DVLR engine to the public. So, on Sunday 24th Rowntrees No.3, Ken Cooke, resplendent after its makeover, was relaunched. Among DVLR’s esteemed guests at the relaunch were: Ken Cooke after whom the locomotive was named. (Ken is seen here inside the cab, proudly wearing his medals including the Légion d'honneur) and Ex Rowntree’s workers too, who enjoyed the nostalgia of seeing the engine now restored to its original Rowntree’s livery. The photograph is by Jonathan D. Stockwell, DVLR archivist.