BR Riddles 4MT 80079

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BRBritish Rail or British Railways RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 80079
80079.jpg
80079 at Bridgnorth
Built By BRBritish Rail or British Railways Brighton Works
Configuration 2-6-4T
BRBritish Rail or British Railways rating 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic.
Status Out of service
Loco Number 80079
History
Built 1954
Designed By Robert RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives
Type BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. Tank
1971 Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway
1977 First steamed in preservation
2002 Withdrawn for overhaul
Technical
Length 60ft 0"
Weight 67t 18cwt
Tractive effort 25,515 lb
Pressure 225 lb/sq in

Steam Locomotives

80079 is a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard Class 4 2-6-4T tank engine designed by R.A. RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives. The Class 4 tank engine was derived from the ex-LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway FairburnCharles Edward Fairburn, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1944-1945 2-6-4T, and was used mainly on commuter and outer suburban services. A total of 155 were built, of which 15 have survived into preservation. They had a BRBritish Rail or British Railways route availability classification of RA5; when used on BRBritish Rail or British Railways Western Region running lines such as the Severn Valley branch this equated to a Blue route availability.[1]

Towards the end of their life members of the class were regularly based at Shrewsbury, from where they saw occasional use on the Severn Valley Branch during commercial service, particularly at the north end of the line.[note 1] These included 80079, one of only two present day SVRSevern Valley Railway residents to have done so (the other being GWR Large Prairie 4150).[2] Classmate 80078 was also recorded on the Branch in service;[3] it has since visited the SVR in preservation as has 80136.

80079 in service

80079 was built in 1954 at BRBritish Rail or British Railways's Brighton works and entered service at Plaistow in March of that year, before moving to Tilbury a month later.[4] From there, 80079 mainly worked passenger services between London Fenchurch Street and Tilbury, Southend and Shoeburyness.[5] A feature of these London, Tilbury and Southend section engines was that they were fitted for the early LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway (HuddAlfred Ernest Hudd (c. 1883 – 1958), patenter of an Automatic Train Control system, who later worked as a consultant engineer to the signal department of the LMS.) form of Automatic Train Control and this was provided on the rear bogie. They were also speedometer fitted from the start.[6]

While hauling a passenger train on 30 January 1958, 80079 overran signals in thick fog and was in a rear-end collision with another passenger train at Dagenham, Essex. Ten people were killed and 89 were injured.[7][8] After repair, 80079 continued in service at Tilbury until rendered redundant by electrification of those lines. A number of the 2-6-4T class were then transferred to the Western Region, with 80079 moving to the Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham in July 1962, from where it would regularly have worked services to Shrewsbury.

John Stretton captions an image of 80079 emerging from Bridgnorth Tunnel on 30 August 1962 on the 7.27p.m. Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury.[9] The locomotive was withdrawn from Croes Newydd in July 1965 and taken to Barry Scrapyard, arriving in January 1966[4][10].

80079 in preservation

80079 at Rainhill, May 1980
Welsh Marches Pullman with 43106, February 1983

80079 was considered the best of the 14 standard tanks at BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation.. An appeal by the 'Passenger Tank Fund' for funds to acquire the locomotive was published in SVRSevern Valley Railway News in Autumn 1970.[11] A share issue to raise the £3,000 purchase price was successfully completed by Spring 1971[12] and 80079 became the 13th locomotive to leave BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation.,[10] arriving at the SVRSevern Valley Railway by rail on 15 May, 1971. A video of the move "From BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. to Bridgnorth" is available on YouTube (external link). It is fitted with boiler No 1334, originally fitted to classmate 80105 (like 80079, a locomotive used on the Severn Valley Branch in BR days).[6]

Restoration began immediately at Bridgnorth. The locomotive was steamed in early 1977, including a test run to Hampton Loade, and entered revenue earning service on 17 April 1977. It quickly gained a reputation as a strong free-steaming engine,[13] and despite a limited water capacity, went on to make an impressive number of appearances on the main line. A number of these were in tandem with fellow classmate 80098. A list of these is set out below.

Date Tour name Route Notes Web SVRSevern Valley Railway News
19 Apr 1980 Black Countryman Hereford - Manchester Victoria (+ Northwich L/E) D/H with 5000. 80079 first main line run SBJ 56-9
20 May 1980 Rocket 150 Rainhill Northwich-Bold Colliery L/S, with 35028 56-9
09 Jun 1980 Rocket 150 Rainhill Bold-Colliery-Bridgnorth D/H + LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway coach 56-9
19 Feb 1983 Welsh Marches Pullman Shrewsbury - Craven Arms - Leominster - Hereford D/H with 43106 SBJ 68-30
26 Feb 1983 Welsh Marches Pullman Hereford - Newport - Hereford D/H with 43106 SBJ 67-31
16 May 1993 The LlanDod Local Shrewsbury?-Knighton-Llangynllo-?Carmarthen? 107-9
30 May 1993 Pembroke Coast Limited Carmarthen - Tenby, Carmarthen - Swansea SBJ 107-45
31 May 1993 Pembroke Coast Limited Carmarthen - Milford Haven - Carmarthen - Swansea* *D/H with 44767 SBJ
06 Jun 1993 Carmarthen-Shrewsbury D/H with 44767 108-51
30 Aug 1993 Jolly Fisherman Nottingham - Skegness - Nottingham SBJ
03 Oct 1993 Cambrian Coast Limited Crewe - Aberystwyth - Crewe D/H with 80080 SBJ
23 Oct 1993 Pantyffynnon - Shrewsbury D/H with 80080 SBJ
01 May 1994 Semper Fidelis Bristol Temple Meads (or Barnstaple)? - Exeter St Davids Top/Tail with 80080 SBJ
02 May 1994 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids - Paddington D/H with 80080 SBJ
07 May 1994 Folkestone Harbour Shuttles Folkestone Harbour - Folkestone East (multiple) Top/Tail with 80080 SBJ 111-40
29 May 1994 Steam on the Met Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) 111-41
19 Nov 1994 Capital Envoy Worcester Shrub Hill - London Paddington D/H with 46521, prior to working Santa specials in the London area SBJ 113-9
01 Jan 1995 Didcot-Worcester D/H with 46521
20 May 1995 Steam on the Met Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) 115-51
28 May 1995 Steam on the Met Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) 115-51
29 May 1995 Steam on the Met Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends) 115-51
24 Sep 1995 Snow Hill - Stourbrige Junction Shuttles x4 Snow Hill Line reopening specials 116-17
21 Dec 1996 Bletchley to Bedford 150 Bletchley-Bedford (4 round trips) 122-11
10 May 1997 Private Charter Snow Hill-Didcot +return 123-13
05 Oct 1997 Shrewsbury-Tywyn-Shrewsbury 125-9
29 Mar 1998 Cambrian Coast Express Shrewsbury-Tywyn-Shrewsbury Did this run? UKS
29 Apr 1998 Worcester-Hereford-Shrewsbury-Crewe Did this run? UKS
02 May 1998 Conwy Climber Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe Ran to Bettwys-y-Coed only (stalled near Roman Bridge) SBJ 127-62
03 May 1998 Conwy Climber Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe First standard gauge steam loco to Blaenau in 30 years SBJ 127-62
04 May 1998 Malvern Tank Crewe-Hereford-Worcester Failed at Shrewsbury UKS
10 Oct 1998 Ynys Mon Express Crewe-Holyhead + return UKS
11 Oct 1998 Conwy Climber Chester-Llandudno Jct-Blaenau + return x2 UKS
20 Mar 1999 Bristol-Tytherington/Westerleigh Shuttles Ran as scheduled UKS
21 Mar 1999 Avonmouth Shuttles Bristol-Avonmouth x3 Ran as scheduled UKS
02 Apr 1999 Dawlish Donkey Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3 130-32
03 Apr 1999 Dawlish Donkey Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3 136-60
03 Apr 1999 Dartmoor Pony Exeter-Meldon Quarry +return
04 Apr 1999 Dawlish Donkey Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3
04 Apr 1999 Globe & Laurel Exeter-Exmouth + return
05 Apr 1999 Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3 Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3
05 Apr 1999 Heathfield Mule Exeter-Heathfield + return
01 May 1999 London Standard Leicester-Corby -Bletchley-Stratford With 80098
02 May 1999 LTSR Steam Shuttles Fenchurch St-Shoeburyness + return With 80098 130-60
03 May 1999 LTSR Steam Shuttles Fenchurch St-Shoeburyness + return With 80098, ran as scheduled 130-62
22 May 1999 Inter-City Tanks Finsbury Park-Kemble -Stourbridge Jct-Tyseley With 80098
16 Oct 1999 Three Spires Local Birmingham Int-Aston-Lichfield-Derby -Leicester-Crewe With 80098
17 Oct 1999 Slate Miner Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe With 80098 131-74
11 Dec 1999 Midlander Bromsgrove-Blackwell Banking 45110 over the Lickey Bank
For further information on sources and references, see The Severn Valley Railway on the main line

In December 1981 filming took place for an episode of ITV’s Game for a Laugh. This featured musician and entertainer Joe Brown firing 80079, a job he previously did for BRBritish Rail or British Railways while a fireman at Plaistow.

In early 1987 work was carried out on the boiler in an attempt to extend the 'ten year ticket' for a further three years.[14] This was partially achieved, with 80079 being withdrawn due to loose/thin flue tube ends in early 1989.[15] Apart from the boiler, the locomotive was considered in good condition mechanically, so when an overhaul began in 1990 the work mainly comprised new bunker platework, new pipework, reconditioned cab fittings and repairs to the tanks.[16] Some attention was also required to the frame.[17] In spring 1991 an SVRA Birmingham Branch raffle helped raise funds for the boiler work.[18]

80079 returned to service in May 1993, making an early appearance on the Central Wales main line before spending the summer at the Llangollen Railway.[19] During the second ticket the locomotive was a consistent performer and in 2000 recorded 12,849 miles, the highest mileage of any SVRSevern Valley Railway locomotive in any single year between 1967 and 2004. The locomotive finally succumbed to tube failure in summer 2002, shortly before the 'ten year certificate' expiry date.[20]

80079 has recorded 103,509 miles in preservation. The mileage by year as reported in SVRSevern Valley Railway News is as follows:[21]

Year Mileage
1977 2,775
1978 5,235
1979 1,935
1980 2,260
1981 5,457
1982 1,776
1983 4,663
1984 4,024
1985 2,826
1986 153
1987 3,698
1988 3,161
1989 462
1993 4,045
1994 4,027
1995 5,426
1996 7,161
1997 7,872
1998 7,553
1999 9,241
2000 12,849
2001 6,160
2002 750
Total 103,509

After cosmetic restoration at Bridgnorth, 80079 was temporarily placed on display at the NRM Shildon in March 2005.[22] It was then one of the first batch of locomotives to be displayed in The Engine House at opening in 2008. It has remained on display there since, although it has occasionally been shunted outside to be re-positioned or turned on Kidderminster Turntable (locomotives at either end of the Engine House generally face towards the centre as seen below).

In November 2024 it was announced that 80079 would move from The Engine House to Barrow Hill on a 'store and display' agreement, with its place being taken by 'Flying Pig' 43106.[23] GWR Large Prairie 5164 was previously at Barrow Hill under a similar arrangement between 2014 and 2021.

The locomotive is owned by The Passenger Tank Fund.

Reported sale

Railway Herald magazine reported on 7 November 2011 that a special meeting of the Passenger Tank Fund had been arranged for 30 October 2011 to discuss and vote on a proposed sale of the locomotive to Mr Jeremy Hosking.[24] No such sale took place.

See also

Notes

  1. Between Buildwas and Bewdley was 'Dotted Blue', meaning the class should have been restricted to 25mph.

References

  1. British Railways Western Region, Locomotive Route Availability, June 1963
  2. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 201
  3. Picture in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 15
  4. 4.0 4.1 BRDatabase (Retrieved 29 January 2015).
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock book 9th edition
  6. 6.0 6.1 SRPS Steam.com (Retrieved 12 August 2024).
  7. Red for Danger. Rolt, L.T.C. (1955, rev. 1966)
  8. Ministry of Transport Accident report
  9. Stretton (2010) p. 90
  10. 10.0 10.1 Beckett and Hardingham (2010), The BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. List 10th Edition
  11. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 18
  12. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 19
  13. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 43-44
  14. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 83
  15. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 92
  16. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 98
  17. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 105
  18. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 98/99
  19. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 106-107
  20. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 140
  21. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 152
  22. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 150
  23. Trackside Magazine, Issue 41, P.75.
  24. Railway Herald Magazine Issue 290, 7 November (2011), p. 16.

Links