45135 is one of eleven preserved Class 45 'Peaks' and was withdrawn by British Railways in March
1987. 3rd Carabinier spent its early preservation years at Peak Rail and moved to the East Lancs
in June 1999, first working at the July Gala that year.
3rd Carabinier
Amalgamated into the The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (RSDG) along with
the Royal Scots Greys, the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards)
were themselves formed in 1922 from another amalgamation of the old 3rd Dragoon
Guards and the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards).
As Scotland's senior regiment and her only regular cavalry, the RSDG lineage includes
ancient regiments giving claim to be the oldest surviving Cavalry Line in the British Army.
The Headquarters of the RSDG (Carabiniers & Greys) is situated within the walls of Edinburgh
Castle.
A Carabinier by dictionary definition is a soldier armed with a carbine - a lightweight rifle with a short
barrel or light automatic rifle. The name was also carried by Fowler/Stanier Class 4-6-0 Royal Scot, 46125.
45135 was withdrawn from traffic and stopped in 2007 due to dwindling oil pressure on its high hours power
unit which is currently undergoing a full strip and rebuild as well as general maintenance around the loco.
The generator will go away for cleaning and inspection before the loco returns to service.
See the Pioneer Diesel Locomotive Group
website for more details and restoration photos
pioneer-diesels.co.uk
