Locomotives that NEARLY made it

Just checking before I get fully involved - is this going to be the standard argument about historical accuracy in preservation-era liveries, or are there going to be new variations?

TIA

Tom

 

Would it be safe to describe him as a bit of a character?

 

Very much so. Never happier than when in his overalls, painting or cleaning up around the shed. Money was tight in the early days and getting 'Nips' (his name for new pence) in the kitty was paramount. Thinking back, it was an amazing operation (long before famous names and their engines arrived on the scene at 10A). Quite often, smaller engines were fuelled by scavenging the site for lumps of coal lying around from the steam era. The camaraderie among the volunteers was awesome and gave me some of the happiest memories in my life.

 

The reported reference to 44888 in the July 1969 SVR News with an appeal deadline of August 9th 1969 is intriguing. The last batch of steam locos previously cut up at Cashmores Great Bridge were Standard Fives 73133/135 and 142 which arrived from Patricroft and were gone by the end of January 1969. One source has the loco cut at the end of May 1969. This would place her as the last of the Black Fives to be scrapped, since 45388 had gone at Drapers a couple of weeks previously. So what happened to her after the Derby Works Open Day in August 1968 and did anyone catch her on film?

 

Tom, if you can offer a new thought on this matter, I'd love to hear it...
My proposal is that each line should paint all the locos regardless of age or origin in a new common livery (orange, maybe?) and all the carriages likewise (dark purple and magenta?). Fully lined in pre grouping style, naturally. And give em all names...

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I think the last novel thought I had on any matter was in about 2017 and I've merely been recycling the old ones ever since. But that's OK because the same arguments come round again and again, especially west of Taunton ...

Tom

 

But that's Betty's engine and she likes it like that. Surely you know that you don't argue with the wife on matters to do with decor.

Peter

 

44888 may have gone from Derby to Tyseley as the later article in SVR News suggests that the tender was split from the loco there. The organiser of the 'last chance' appeal was Ron Gardner who subsequently led the team that rescued and restored 80079 and 75069 and went on to become Chairman of the Severn Valley Railway Association and a director of SVR(H). Sadly Ron passed away in March 2019 so is no longer around to ask. Not a lot more I can add, but hopefully someone else can provide more information.

 

Thanks Robin. You are right - after a bit more digging I have found that 44888 moved to Tyseley from Derby in a special traffic notice dated 2 December 1968.

Ron Gardner - top bloke. I remember him supporting “his” engines on the mainline. I always remember him chuckling about he intervened to help the crews when the pair of Standards stalled out on the Exmouth train during the Exeter Railfair.

 

I was the SVR member who spotted the tender from 44888 at Cadoxton en-route to Woodhams yard and immediately got on the phone, I think to David Williams. Interest was immediate so I called in to Dai’s office to put a hold on it.
Subsequently on 6th? Jan 1973 I traveled on said convoy as a caretaker on 4930.
Also in the convoy were7819, 4141, 5164 for Bewdley and 73129 which continued to Derby.

 

Thanks for helping fill in some of the background GW 5972. I remember the tender being behind the box at Highley and being fascinated in its good ex-BR condition.

 

Another that hasn't yet been mentioned was Gresley A4 "Dominion of New Zealand". As I understand it was offered to the New Zealand authorities in the same was as DoC went to Canada; however, the gift was turned down as there wasn't the money to transport it. (Whether the 3'6" gauge in NZ also had an impact in that decision, in that it would have meant zero possibility it could ever run, I don't know).

Tom

 

Tom, there's a few like that, Brit no4 was offered to Stratford Council and declined because of lack of space, same as several of the Big Lizzies named after Cities 6240 and 6254 come to mind. (City of Coventry and City of Stoke-on-Trent) I think 6240's number and 1 nameplate are on display at Coventry station.

 

City of Coventry’s nameplate is on display at the station. It is one (the only) memorable thing about the station unless you like 1960s BR station design.

 

Cov's not that bad, certainly a lot better than New Street or Wolvo.
I could be wrong but didn't Stoke have 6254's smoke box plate on display there?
Yet another piece of thread drift, but were any of the warship or 50 nameplates presented to their namesakes upon withdrawal?

 

Urgh, a most awful station, I have to use it to visit Gran. The most grim station frontage imaginable - what were BR thinking!

 

Brit No4? William Shakespeare?

 

Between Rugby and Crewe someone really cocked up! Cov, New Street Wolvo and Stafford are all bloody awful, Cov's maybe the best of a bad bunch out of those four.
About 5 years ago I went home to see the folks and Dad and I ended up at Highley, we were having a cup of tea and piece of cake, and I remarked how lovely it was compared to that sodding awful place I was about 3 1/2 hours ago! (Euston)

 

That's the one.