Raising The Standard

4270 & 7903 'On Shed' at Toddington flying the flag for Santa - 4th December 2022 - Photo courtesy of Simon Edmunds

 

With the 'Santa Specials' in full swing, I thought we'd alight at a different station and join a rather interesting project.  

 

In railway parlance, the word 'standard' or 'standards' in its plural form often refers to a multitude of things. We could talk about the standards by which our locomotives and pieces of rolling stock are maintained, or perhaps, the fact that our railway must operate to certain agreed standards, rules and regulations. Now as riveting as the latter may well sound as a topic for discussion, you're no doubt pleased or relieved to hear that this particular subject is beyond the scope of this article - Spoilsport! I hear some of you cry! I'm sure us department members are due a mutual improvement class (MIC).

 

As avid steam railway enthusiasts though, when we talk about 'standards', the first thing that probably comes to mind are the 999 locomotives constructed by British Railways between 1951 and 1960. In many respects, you could say that this was the 'last hurrah' as far as steam locomotive building in Britain was concerned, with its ultimate demise only hastened by the controversial British Railways' modernisation plan of 1955. I am rather intrigued as to why BR didn't round things off with 1000, despite further orders. The materialisation of another standard would've been quite fitting in my opinion. If anyone happens to know the reasoning behind the odd number, I'd be more than happy to be enlightened as to the fact.

 

BR Standard Class 9F No. 92203 'Black Prince' at Toddington - 5th August 2010

To be slightly pedantic for a moment, we mustn't forget the ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0s and 2-10-0s that were constructed between 1943 & 1945. Both types were regarded as the 'Standard Austerity' classes after their renumbering in 1949/50.

Why am I talking about standards? Well, being a Western Region heritage railway we mustn't forget that Swindon Works had the honour of constructing the final standard. This was to be the the last steam locomotive ever to be built by British Railways, with R.A.Riddles' BR Standard Class 9F No. 92220 'Evening Star' rolling off the production line in March 1960. 

 

A sign that times are changing? EE Type 3 Diesel D6948 lurks in wait behind 35006 & 4270 - 2nd December 2022

 

The GWSR has played host to a number of BR standard locomotives throughout the years, with visitors including; Britannia Class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell', Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76017, and one of 9F 92220's classmates No. 92203 'Black Prince'. One locomotive which is often overlooked however, is Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76077, otherwise known as 'The Forgotten Standard'. This particular locomotive was rather camera shy back in active BR service and is a member of the GWSR's home fleet. She is currently undergoing restoration with the goal of returning to service in 2026. 

 

Out of the 999 BR Standards constructed, the Standard Class 4s were the most numerous and had the most variants.  

An interesting fact about the Standard 4, and specifically the 4-6-0 variant, is that it can be regarded as BR's version of the Great Western Railway’s (GWR) 7800 ‘Manor’ Class - The standard having a similar power output and dimensions. Both locomotive classes were constructed at Swindon Works, which resulted in them being tested against each other to gauge their performance. As a result, the draughting on the 'Manors' was improved to enhance their steaming abilities.  

 

BR Standard Class 9F No. 92203 'Black Prince' at Toddington - 30th December 2007

The BR Standard locomotives were designed and constructed in an effort to standardise locomotives from the existing collection of older machines, many of which dated from the pre-grouping era. The designs were heavily influenced by LMS practices, however they also incorporated modifications and ideas from the other three companies of the 'Big Four'.

 

As far as the tenders are concerned, these were also constructed to new designs. There were 14 variations in total classified under three types, these being either BR1, BR2 or BR3. The ex-WD Austerity locos used the tender type BR5.

 

76077 on LCGB Warrington & Widnes brake van railtour 05-08-1967 - Photo © Editha H https://flic.kr/p/2mMPD9F

 

I am now going to hand over the keyboard to the very capable hands of Ian Crowder, our public relations officer, who is going to introduce you to Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76077. I have added a number of photographs and a video to complement his article. Further news on 76077 will be published here in due course, but for now, it's over to you Ian...

Setting Standards

There was a steam locomotive at Toddington that had been around for over 30 years, but pretty much out of sight and out of mind. The locomotive had lain in bits on wagons up the North Headshunt and was only noticed by the more observant of passengers in passing trains. It is now well on the way to steaming again, but there’s not a lot of it to see at Toddington.

A fascinating image of ‘foreign’ Sutton Oak-based 76077 heading north through Winchester on 14 April 1964 with what is believed to be 20003, one of the Bulleid-Raworth co-co electric locomotives (later class 70) in tow from Eastleigh Works. The head code suggests the destination is likely to be Farnham electric depot via the Mid-Hants route (I Duncan / S Mourton collection)

 

That locomotive is, of course, Standard class 4 2-6-0 no. 76077 which was bought from Woodham’s Barry Scrapyard in 1987 by Chris Hinton. He and members of the department quite quickly dismantled the engine but work stopped and hence the engine’s mortal remains found themselves on wagons and stored.

Long story short, the engine’s components, apart from the boiler, were sent to Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough where progress on this ex-Barry hulk has been rapid by any measure. So, how did the sudden revival of interest in the engine suddenly come about?

No. 76017 arriving at Ropley - Photo © Chris Allen (cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/7306442

 

Many readers will recall the visit of sister 76017 from the Mid-Hants Railway for the Cotswold Festival of Steam back in 2017. The engine was, to say the least, popular especially with engine crews and shed volunteers. Easy to maintain, oil up, drive and fire (so long as you can fire left-handed!) everyone agreed: “What an ideal engine for our line!”
 

BR 'Standard 4' Class 2-6-0 No. 76017 (visiting from the Mid-Hants Railway) double-heading with SR rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class 4-6-2 No. 35006 "Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co." during the 'COTSWOLD FESTIVAL of STEAM' on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in May 2017 - Video © SatNavDan

 

Some members of the department got together and negotiated with owner Chris Hinton and the net result was that ownership was transferred to a brand-new company: Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited, with four directors: Chris Irving (Chairman); Andrew Meredith (Engineering); Richard Winstanley (Finance) and Ian Crowder (Marketing), as well as Chris Hinton as a founding director and his long-time friend Rob Merrick who acts as team secretary. Since then, more have joined the team including Steve Everett (who has taken over as Finance Director although Richard Winstanley remains a director), Simon Edmunds who looks after the website and social media and Dawn Southwell who is share registrar and retail manager.

Fortunately, Chris Hinton was able to collect a huge number of components for the engine which has certainly simplified the restoration. Even so, some significant parts were missing – for example, the reverser and gearbox. A component sponsorship scheme has however, been successful in raising over £50,000 to pay for new, or refurbishment of existing, parts including the £15,000 cost of the reverser gearbox!

BR Riddles Standard Class "4MT" 2-6-0 No.76077 with BR2 tender at Woodham's Scrapyard, Barry, 07/68. Scanned photograph taken with a Kowa SET camera - Photo © Hugh Llewelyn https://flic.kr/p/dQEQ4z

 

76077 looks much like a locomotive once again rather than a giant Airfix kit and, since the beginning of September, is once more a 2-6-0 thanks to the coupling rods from the ill-fated 76080 (scrapped at Barry) now fitted. The cab is albeit temporarily in place sporting a cabside number created by Andy Beale: and it certainly wowed those who attended the Shareholder open day at Loughborough in September. Nevertheless it has been decided that the original cab sides are a bit too far ‘gone’ and are being replaced with new metal: meaning that the cab will be almost entirely brand new.

Other major new work has included complete replacement of the rear drag box, most of the front drag box, rebuilding and repairing derailment damage to the pony truck, a brand new smokebox assembly complete with chimney, door and door furniture to say nothing of hundreds of volunteer man-hours rubbing down, filling, painting, re-filling, re-painting and finishing! The frames were re-wheeled last year (and you can see a time-lapse of the re-wheeling here – scroll to the bottom of the page for the video) and as mentioned earlier, the coupling rods have now been fitted. Special thanks are due to the machine shop team who have produced (and continue to produce) numerous components for the engine using raw materials and drawings supplied by Andrew Meredith.

Withdrawn 76077 stands at Springs Branch shed, Wigan. 1967 - Photo © varleyroger2002 https://flic.kr/p/dgHHhj

 

Next major task is machining of the valve and cylinder bores, after which the overhauled pistons, slide bars, valves and motion can start to be assembled. Fortunately, in 1964 this Sutton Oak (Lancashire) allocated engine was overhauled at Eastleigh; and new valve liners were fitted at Swindon (shame they didn’t do the cylinders at the same time!). Given the engine only worked three years after overhaul many components that remained on the engine at Barry (such as slide bars and expansion links) were in pretty good order.

 

Also in good order considering the many years it has been stored, is the boiler which was fitted to the engine at Eastleigh in 1964. The boiler in fact, is one of the earlies having been built in 1952 at Doncaster, first fitted to 76007 and then overhauled and fitted to 76012. It was overhauled a third time for 76077 and work included replacing a large number of the original Monel metal stays with copper ones whole the remaining Monel stays were re-nutted. Of interest, 76077’s original Swindon-built boiler is now fitted to sister 76079.

 

On her way home from the SR following overhaul at Eastleigh, 76077 heads north through Wellingborough Midland station with a train of petroleum tanks on 17 April 1964 (Richard Dunkley)

 

The boiler remains at Toddington and an inspection in 2021 found it to be in generally very good shape with relatively little work to return it to working order. However, it has been decided that to ensure the boiler’s longevity that if we can, we’ll replace the front barrel section (rather than patch the front bottom) and fit a new front tube plate rather than repair the existing one. However, although the front corners of the outer wrapper will need patching the copper firebox itself is in excellent condition. This work will help to ensure a quick turnaround when the engine is withdrawn after its first ten-year ticket expires. The cost of the boiler work is estimated to be around £150,000 and it will be contracted out.

 

Meanwhile the boiler will be moved shortly (if it hasn’t already happened) either inside or just outside the David Page shed so that we can start to trial fit the cladding which has been beautifully made by the ‘Norfolk Tin Man’ – who made the cladding for 7820 Dinmore Manor. Thus, when the boiler has been overhauled it will be a relatively quick job to fit the cladding once the boiler has been reunited with the frames.

 

In the scrap line at Wigan Springs Branch shed, shortly after closure, Standard 4s 76077/80/84 await removal to Barry Scrapyard on Wednesday 13 December 1967 - Photo © John Freeth https://flic.kr/p/qGqP5A

 

Of course, there is one pretty essential component missing: the tender. This is now attached to 76017 (so it has already run on the GWSR!) because that engine’s original was sold (as with many other tenders at Barry) to Briton Ferry Steelworks to be used as a billet carrier. The intention is to initially run with a hired-in tender and in due course, to build a new one. An agreement Chris Hinton reached with Tyseley Locomotive Works many years ago, to provide a full set of platework for a new tender will still be honoured. That was because Chris Hinton had acquired a Hawksworth tender chassis which he passed to Tyseley – that went on to form the basis of a new tender that is now running behind Castle no. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

 

76017 with 76077's tender at Southall, having travelled by rail from the Bluebell Railway - 8th December 2022 - Photo courtesy of Ian Crowder

 

The original tender that ran with 76077 was a BR2A (3,500 gal). However some of the class ran with BR1B (4,750 gal) tenders and there is a strong engineering argument – not least that the correct axles and axle boxes for the larger tender are already in stock, from a Class 40 diesel. In addition there are other BR1 tenders being built for other restoration projects, providing the opportunity to share experience, CAD drawings and manufacturing costs. You can read the engineering argument for fitting the BR1B tender to 76077 in this feature written by Andrew Meredith for The Toddington Standard magazine.

 

Having said that, it has recently come to light that BR2A wheelsets and axle boxes survive on another heritage railway and should we be able to acquire them, then that would significantly reduce the cost of building a BR2A compared with the BR1B (the smaller roller bearing axleboxes and wheelsets for a BR2A would otherwise have to be specially and expensively made).

 

76077 runs through Dallam in 1964 with a Presflo cement train - Photo © Dallam Dave https://flic.kr/p/fLyMzt

 

So, to the 64,000-dollar question: when can we expect to see the engine steaming again? The team is aiming for 2026, which will be 76077’s 70th birthday and the project is well on target to achieve that. Of course there remains an awful lot to do, not least the boiler and in 2023 a major push will be made towards raising the £150,000 needed. Meanwhile, regular working parties at both Toddington and Loughborough are helping to make good progress and to an extremely high standard. The combination of using the engineering expertise of Locomotive Maintenance Services with the support and effort of volunteers is working well, with the result that this must be one of the fastest restorations in the heritage sector.

 

To my mind this is an exciting project that will quickly be rewarded with the engine hauling trains on our 14-mile line. If you aren’t already a shareholder you can become one for as little as £10/month or you could join one of our working parties. A work programme will be published shortly on the 76077 website. 

 

The classic ¾ photo pose, 76077 awaits her supporters on 3rd September 2022 - Photo courtesy of Ian Crowder

 

Find out more at www.standard76077.com

A brief history

· Built Horwich, 1956 

· Allocated to 8G (formerly 10E) Sutton Oak, St Helens

· Overhauled Eastleigh in 1964 

· Valve liners fitted 1964 

· Sutton Oak closed as a depot in June 1967, 76077 along with 76079/80/84 reallocated to Wigan Springs Branch (8F)

· Withdrawn December 1967, one of the final four members of the class

· Transferred to Woodham’s, Barry in 1968

· Heavily cannibalised while at Barry

· Bought by Chris Hinton 1987 and moved to Toddington in May that year

· 1990 loco stored

· 2018 loco removed from storage, frames sent to LMS, Loughborough

· 2018 Toddington Standard Locomotive Limited formed and acquired 76077

· 2020 overhaul of pony truck completed

· 2021 frames re-wheeled, boiler inspection carried out, smokebox temporarily fitted

· 2022 76077 becomes a 2-6-0 once again with coupling rods fitted; cab temporarily fitted  

  

Last members of the class
All built at Horwich

76077 at Warrington Bank Quay 05-08-1967 - Photo © Ron Perry https://flic.kr/p/2knBw2x

 

With my keyboard now safely returned, let us continue for a little while longer. A few comments on the previous blog entry raised the subject of the late Terry Wogan, who sadly died on the 31st January 2016. He was known for numerous radio and television programmes over the years, with 'Wogan', 'Eurovision', 'Blankety Blank', 'Children in Need' and of course, 'Wake Up To Wogan' being of notable mention. Very occasionally he could be found covering a railway subject or interviewing someone with some sort of connection to railways, one such individual being Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry. 

 

To railway enthusiasts both young and old, Rev. Awdry is best known for being the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. On the 30th March 1988, Awdry was one of the guests on Terry's 'Wogan' talk show. This was Episode 38 from Series 8.

 

"The Reverend Awdry explains not only how he got the inspiration for his "Thomas The Tank Engine" books, but also how he has to make them appeal to parents as well as children. Among the other guests are Lord Plumb and the Pet Shop Boys".

 

Listeners to Radio 2 between 1993 & 2009 will be familiar with 'Wake Up to Wogan' and Terry's wonderful ability to put the listener at ease, and often cause bouts of uncontrollable laughter, which made the morning commute more tolerable. A particular segment that gained widespread appeal amongst the regulars, otherwise known as 'Terry's Old Geezers or Gals' (T.O.G.s) was the day's 'Janet & John' story. Here's one of the aforementioned stories which I think is rather appropriate due to the subject: On A Steam Train. Now I must warn you that this contains a degree of adult humour. :)

 

Terry hung up his microphone following the final 'Wake Up to Wogan' show on the 18th December 2009: Terry Signs Off

 

4270 & 7903 stabled inside the DP Shed at Toddington - 2nd December 2022

 

With only a couple of weeks to go until Christmas (blimey, is that all!), work continues apace at the railway as you would expect. With the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we'll be operating services throughout the festive period. Much like the GWSR, Christmas is a time for family, friends and acquaintances to come together, from far and wide, from different backgrounds, and from different professions. How long the in-laws stay is another matter though!

 

I mentioned about winter maintenance in an earlier blog, and whilst this is indeed ongoing at the railway, it would appear that the locomotives are not the only things that require attention! It is often said that 'your body is a temple', alas the body belonging to your humble author has seen better days of late. Unfortunately, I can only attribute this to the increased consumption of mince pies recently, my own fault, I'll admit. However, I doubt any amount of maintenance is going to solve this rather pressing issue anytime soon, thus I guess I'd be better off waiting for my own 'Resurrection'.

 

I hear Easter is a bit earlier next year? A few more months of my self-inflicted suffering to go then... oh look another pie!

 

7903 'On Shed' at Toddington shortly before we lit her up - 2nd December 2022

 

I suppose we could discuss New Year's Resolutions, but then again, we all know how those tend to work out. Anyway, fingers crossed, I'll have another blog instalment for you before Father Christmas descends down your sooty chimney!

 

Seasons greetings to you all and try not to indulge yourselves too much, oh who am I kidding! Do have some fun folks.

 

Alex (the sooty one... and no, before you ask, I'm not Santa).

 

I'll leave you now with an excellent live performance from Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1972 with Friendship Train.

 

All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.