Ex GWR Steam Loco Manor Class 7802 'Bradley Manor' Severn Valley Railway 2016

Class 7802 'Bradley Manor' Steam Loco, Severn Valley Railway

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Ex-Great Western Railway steam locomotive 4-6-0 No. 7802 'Bradley Manor', pulls out of Kidderminster station, tender first, heading for Bridgnorth, on the Severn Valley Railway on the 2nd October 2016. 

 

  
Designed by Charles Collett, who was Chief Mechanical Engineer for the Great Western Railway between 1922 and 1941, 7802 was built at the GWR works at Swindon in 1938.

The locomotive worked on the Great Western Railway for 27 years, being allocated first to Old Oak Common (shed code 81A), and then Bristol Bath Road (82A), Machynlleth (89C) and finally Shrewsbury (84G), from where it was withdrawn from service in November 1965.

 

Train of Coaches Behind 7802 'Bradley Manor' About to Depart Kidderminster 
Photo: Charles Moorhen

 

They operated on most of the former G.W.R. railway system and on such secondary main lines of the former Midland & South Western Junction (M. & S.W.J.) railways.

The Manor class of steam locomotives were able to work over routes barred to the 'Halls' and 'Granges' class of loco being somewhat lighter.

In July 1966 the locomotive was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Wales where it languished for thirteen years before being rescued by the 'Erlestoke Manor Fund'.

7802 'Bradley Manor' featured in the 2005 film, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'.


Manor Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).

Designer: C.B.Collett.
Origin: Great Western Railway.
Introduced: Jan 1938.
Purpose: Mixed Traffic.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-0.
Number Series: 7800 - 7829.
Driving Wheel: 5ft. 8in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft.
Length: 61ft. 9-1/4ins.
Weight: 108 tons 18cwt.
Water Capacity: 3,600 gallons.
Cylinders: (2). 18in. x 30in.
Boiler Pressure: 225 lb. sq.in.
Tractive Effort: 27,340 lb.
Coal Capacity: 6 tons.
Power Classification: 5-MT.
Route Availability: Blue.

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Class 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' 4-6-2 Steam Loco Didcot 1988 Photo

'Duke of Gloucester' Steam Loco, Didcot Railway Centre

Photo: Charles Moorhen

                     

The same photo, but in my opinion looking better presented in black and white...more 'Age of Steam' 

An excellent example of British Railways Steam traction, Standard Class 8P 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', is seen here on display at Didcot Railway Centre back in June 1988, did not make much of an impression on me when I saw it, apart from appreciating the beautiful condition that it was in, due entirely to the fact that I knew nothing at all about it.  However, since doing some research on it, I realise now what an iconic steam locomotive it is.

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From my research here is a basic history of the locomotive:

In a perverse kind of way, it could be said that if it had not been for the horrific 3-train rail crash at Harrow and Wealdstone on the 8th October 1952, which killed 112 and injured 340, Standard Class 8 8P 4-6-2 No 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', would never have been built.

As a result of the Harrow and Wealdstone crash, Stanier 4-6-2 Turbomotive No 46202 'Princess Anne', was damaged beyond repair and a gap had appeared in the Pacific roster for the West Coast Main Line.  British Railways, who earlier had turned down a suggestion from British locomotive engineer, Robert Riddles, that an express passenger locomotive in the power class of 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', gave the go-ahead for just such a prototype steam locomotive to be produced.

Weighing in at a colossal 101 tons 5 cwt (without tender) , Crewe-built 71000 'Duke of Glousester', was put into traffic from Crewe North TMD in June 1954.

Beset with problems from the outset, the most significant being poor draughting and excessive water and coal consumption, the locomotive gained a reputation for being erratic and unpredictable and only remained in service for a mere eight years before being withdrawn in December 1962.

Following withdrawal, the cylinder assembly and valve gear were removed and retained by National Collection with the remainder sent for scrap to Woodham's on Barry Island, Wales.

Fortunately, in 1974, the Duke of Gloucester Locomotive Trust acquired the rusting locomotive.  Over a number of years restoration work was carried out until reaching completion in the autumn of 1986.  Further work was undertaken to bring the locomotive up to the standard requirements for main-line running, and in April 1990 it made its main-line debut.

'The Duke', as it is affectionately known by the railway preservation fraternity, has a website dedicated to it; offering membership to the society, history, merchandise and more.  To visit the site click here.


Standard Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).
Designed: Derby Works.
Origin: West Coast Main Line of the London Midland Region.
Introduced: 1954.
Purpose: Express Passenger.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 71000 (Duke of Gloucester) One only.
Driving Wheel: 6ft. 2in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft.
Length: 70ft.
Weight: Engine 101 tons. Tender 55 tons 10 cwt.
Water Capacity: 4,725 gallons.
Cylinders: (3) 18 in. x 28in.
Boiler Pressure: 250 lb sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 39.080 lbs.
Coal Capacity: 10 tons.
Power Classification: 8-P.

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Photo Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class Loco 35006 Nameplate Unveiling 2016

 

 

'Merchant Navy' 35006 Steam Locomotive Nameplate Unveiled 

Pete Waterman Unveils Merchant Navy Loco Nameplate

Pop! Goes The Loco

Nearly 500 people recently attended the unveiling of the former Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class Pacific locomotive, 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co', at Toddington, on May 20th 2016; home of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway following an immense years-long overhaul providing a glimpse of times past and a bygone era.

John McMillan, P&O Locomotive Society chairman, opened the day's proceedings and GWSR's president, celebrity and record producer, Pete Waterman, unveiled the locomotive's nameplate.

One of 30 engines of the class to built, all named after shipping lines that used Southampton Docks, Class 35006 locomotive was salvaged from Dai Woodham's scrapyard in Wales, where she had stood rusting away since her withdrawal in the 1960's, and brought to the GWSR - then in its infancy - in 1983.

35006 in Dai Woodham's scrapyard 

David Brown, a locomotive fireman in the 1960's based at Yeovil, worked P&O's final journey on a mail train from Yeovil to Eastleigh, then returned it to its home depot of Salisbury.

The locomotive will make its public debut at the Cotswold Festival of Steam at the GWSR from 28th to 30th May.

Full details are available on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway website.

 

Merchant Navy Class Locomotive Technical Specifications: (British Railways Classification).
Designer: O. V. Bulleid.
Origin: Southern Railway.
Introduced: June 1941.
Purpose: Express Passenger.
Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-2.
Number Series: 35001 - 35030.
Driving Wheel: 6ft. 2in.
Bogie Wheel: 3ft. 1in.
Length: 69ft. 7 3/4in.
Weight: (without tender) 94 tons 15 cwt. (Increased to 97tons in rebuilt engines).
Water Capacity: 5,000 gallons.
Cylinders: (3) 18in. x 24in.
Boiler Pressure: 250 lb. sq. in.
Tractive Effort: 37,515 lb.
Coal Capacity: 5 tons.
Power Classification: 8-P.

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Photo Southern Railway Class 30075 'Yankee' Steam Loco North Dorset Railway

 

 

 

Class 30075 'Yankee' Steam Locomotive at Shillingstone Station

Yankee Locomotive 30075 at The North Dorset Railway

Two Yankee steam locomotives, owned by a locomotive group called 'Project 62', arrived at the home of the North Dorset Railway Trust, Shillingstone, Dorset.

Displaying the numbers 30075 and 30076, both 46-ton steam locomotives, known as 'Yankee's', were so called as they are a pattern build of the World War II USATC S100 Class 0-6-0T Switcher/Shunters designed by Colonel Howard G Hill. 

Built in former Yugoslavia 30076 was constructed in 1954, with 30075 (shown above) being built six years later in 1960.

Many of these Yankee tank locomotives saw service in the UK - including 14 on the Southern Railway plus a number in industrial service with car manufacturers, Austin Motors/BMC at Longbridge, the NCB in the North East and on the Longmoor Military Railway.

The locomotives, which both require extensive mechanical work, have arrived at Shillingstone in time to be displayed for the 50th anniversary marking the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Railway on the 7th March 1966.

The North Dorset Railway Trust said: "New members and volunteers to work on the locomotives and at Shillingstone station are always welcome."

If anyone is interested in being a part owner of a steam locomotive, shares are available in both locomotives and details can be found on Project 62’s website at project62.supanet.com


USA Class Steam Locos on YouTube:

USA Class steam loco 30075 at Dartmoor Railway.

Southern Railway 'USA' Class locos at Southampton, 1962.

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