WD 193 Shropshire

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WD 193 Shropshire
193 Shropshire Bridgnorth Yard.jpg
WD 193 in Bridgnorth Yard in 1972 (David Cooke)
Built By Hunslet Engine Company
Configuration 0-6-0ST
Status Out of service
Loco Number WD 193
Other Numbers Works Number 3793
History
Built 1953
Designed By Hunslet Engine Company
Type WD Austerity
1971 Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway
1981 Sold by the SVRSevern Valley Railway
1984 Left the SVRSevern Valley Railway on loan
Technical
Length 30ft 4"
Weight 48t 5cwt
Tractive effort 23.870 lb
Pressure 170 lb/sq in

Steam Locomotives

WD 193 'Shropshire' was resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway between 1971 and 1981.

The War Department Austerity 0-6-0ST was the standard World War II shunting engine, designed by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds and built between 1942 and 1946 to the requirements of the Ministry of Supply. A number of these engines were also built by sub-contractors, an example of which is temporary SVRSevern Valley Railway resident WD 71516 Welsh Guardsman. 75 were taken into LNERLondon & North Eastern Railway stock as J94 class and on nationalisation were given a 4FThe 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. classification. The design continued to be built into the 1950s for industrial users, including the National Coal Board.

WD 193 in service

This locomotive was built by Hunslet in 1953 as Works Number 3793 and formed part of a further batch ordered for WD (Army) use, for which it was allocated the number WD 193. WD 193 was initially put into store at Bicester in July 1953, but by 1955 it had moved to the WD-operated Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway based at Kinnerley, where it saw intermittent use. On 20 March 1960 WD 193 worked a special last train over the S & M organised by the Stephenson Locomotive Society, before moving to the Arncott workshops at Bicester in June 1960. During the 1960s 193 was kept at the Long Marston Depot, mainly in store.[1]

WD 193 in preservation

After being declared surplus to requirements by the MOD, WD 193 was bought in June 1971 for use on the SVRSevern Valley Railway. Following a re-paint into a dark green livery while still at Long Marston, 193 was moved to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, arriving on 7 August 1971.[1] The locomotive was in almost good mechanical order but was initially beset by priming due to the grease used to preserve the boiler. The opportunity was taken to equip the locomotive for steam heating so that it could be used on winter services.[2]

With the SVRSevern Valley Railway only operating between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade, WD 193 initially saw regular service, with 5 carriages being a typical load. On the weekend of 23-24 December 1973, WD 193 hauled the SVRSevern Valley Railway's first "Santa Claus" specials; reduced to 3 carriages and using steam heating. The first Boxing Day service also took place in that year.[3]

Following the opening to Bewdley in 1974, WD 193’s limited water capacity became a factor. It was used mainly on the Hampton Loade "shuttles" and lightly loaded mid-week trains, serving as a standby locomotive for full line services between Bridgnorth and Bewdley.[4] In winter 1974-75 it was kept serviceable for works trains and for the Christmas services, which it again worked single-handed. During the winter a new point was installed at the southern end of Bridgnorth yard, on which WD 193 was promptly derailed on the first day of the 1975 season![5]

In 1978 WD 193 was repainted into an LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway-style crimson lake livery, and given the name 'Shropshire' at a naming ceremony on 15 April 1978.[6]

Mileage on the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Mileages for 193 as reported in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 152 “SVRSevern Valley Railway Steam Locomotive Mileages 1969-1989” were as follows:

Year Mileage Notes
1967-1970 1,021 Note 1
1971 88
1972 701
1973 900
1974 1,830
1975 1,905
1976 960
1977 950
1978 770
1979 1935 Note 2
1980 435
1981 160
Total 11,655

Note 1: Also reported in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 58 "Steam Locomotive Mileages for the Decade", although SVRSevern Valley Railway News and Stock Books confirm that the locomotive only arrived in 1971.
Note 2: Originally reported in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 58 as 335 miles.

Move from the SVRSevern Valley Railway

In 1981 WD 193 was lent to the 6000 Locomotive Association who were based at the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford. The locomotive traveled there in steam on 30 January 1981 in convoy with 4930 Hagley Hall and ‘Black 5’ LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 5000 which were setting off on main line duties.[7] The move to Hereford eventually became permanent, with the SVRSevern Valley Railway Board announcing in late 1983 that WD 193 was being sold.

From 1999 WD 193 was based at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston.[8]

Gallery

See also

Former Residents

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Fifth Edition
  2. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 21
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 29, 31, 32
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 34
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 35
  6. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50, p.2.
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 59
  8. Ribble Steam Railway web site

Links