History of LMS 8F 48173

Hoping someone can assist me.

I'm trying to compile a history of CVR 8F. Has anyone got any details for her (shed allocations etc) up until her arrival at Barry and eventual preservation. Also any dates for her movements in Preservation? Did she go straight from Barry to Avon Valley in 1986, before Greg Wilson purchased her in 2008?

 

A basic history can be found here:- BRDatabase - the Complete British Railways Locomotive Database 1948-1997

Hope this helps.

Regards, oddsocks.

 

Excellent little website that, which I was not aware of. Thanks.

Anyone able to tell me where she initially allocated, as unfortunately this one fact is missing from the above database?

 

In 1944 she was at 1A Willesden.
The Wild Swan Loco Profile books are working overtime tonight.

 

Hello, she did move to Bitton from Barry.

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

 

Any idea what year, as I've got information saying both 85/86, which are both before I was born!

Also any idea what number out of 213 to leave Barry she was? I know she was in the last 20, but can't find an exact number in the documents I have.

 

Hello, my images of her at Bitton seem to start from September 17th 1988.
Stanier 8F 48173, Bitton. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Stanier 8F 48173, Bitton. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
LMS Fowler Tender 3918, Bitton. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

 

See the notes below the photo in this link:

48173 Barry 25.8.88 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I think it answers everything.

 

According to a booklet given away with Steam Railway March 1990 issue, 48173 was the 208th loco out of Woodhams, September 1988, having been there since October 1965.

 

I was interested to see a photo, taken by the late Paul Strong (date of photo unkown) of what appears to be 48173 on a mineral train near Chedworth on the old M&SWJR, which closed in September 1961. This is the 1st photographic evidence I have seen of an 8F on the old M&SWJR but I had assumed it was quite possible that several of this class travelled along this route from Cheltenham to Andover via Andoversford and Swindon (Town).

See: Swindon's Other Railway

 

LMS 8173 (completed 6/1943) was allocated to Willesden when new, according to a note in the Stephenson Loco Society Journal of September 1943.

 

Below is all the information I have been able to find for (4)8173.

 

Nice work!
Here's a bit more detail about 8173 from the SLS Journals:

Week ending 21 Feb 1948 - on loan to 26A.

Week ending 27 March 1948 - transferred to 26A.

Week ending 17 Dec 1949 - on loan to 2A.

Week ending 7 Jan 1950 - transferred to 2A.

Week ending 18 Feb 1950 - renumbered 48173.

Hope this helps.

 

It's not something I've considered before but it strikes me as interesting that the renumbering is two years after nationalisation. Was it the case that locomotives were renumbered simply as and when they visited the works next (which makes sense really) rather than a concerted effort being made to renumber asap (which would be unnecessary effort)?

Thanks!

 

The BR renumbering went on for years - until late 1953 at least. For a while you could see engines with old LMS numbers, LMS numbers with an "M" prefix, and BR 4xxxx numbers.

Can't say when the last one was renumbered, but I expect it would be mentioned in some of the railway mags - at a guess, around 1954.

 

I have a copy of the engine record cards for ex L&Y 0-6-0 tank 51537. This indicates it was renumbered the w.e. 4. 9. 54.
The last 8F to be renumbered was 8602. This was done during April 1953.

 

I supposed having the number plates cast, and delivered to the sheds would be a factor in the renumbering..

painting the side is easy enough.

Was there several locations casting number plates, where they cast enmasse or by demand ?
Casting 20k number plates, shed plates etc I would imagine is a job enough for itself.


by comparison look at todays modern railway.. class 92's are still running around in railfreight 3 tone grey.. and BR went away in 1994..

 

I liked 48173 when it was at Barry because it drew me to take photos since it had an eye painted on the front buffer and a big red smiley on the buffer beam
At Barry it was connected to a Stanier tender but I believe Avon Valley bought it with a Fowler tender? Is that what the image above depicts?

It seems 48173 is now with Stanier 4000g tender 10032 (ex 48305)

 

Reading "Rescued from Barry" by Alan Warren (pub Ian Allan) he notes that at August 1983 48173 was intended to go to the Peak Railway Society which - at the time - was based at Buxton and was looking to develop its line south from Buxton towards Millers Dale. Is there any indication when that destination changed and why ?