BR Standard Class 4 '4-6-0' No 75014 - Photo courtesy of Kenny Felstead
Upon reading this blog title your first thought may well have been "Why is he asking about Braveheart?". Well, there is in fact good reason for this. Now I could say that Sir William Wallace will be making an appearance at the railway this year, although that would be quite an achievement, considering the fact that the man himself shuffled off this mortal coil on 23rd August 1305. However, if you're an avid viewer of either 'Doctor Who' or 'Outlander', then we're led to believe that time travel is indeed possible. Personally, I'd prefer to travel in the Tardis as opposed to running at a large block of stone and hoping for the best - I'm ever the optimist as some of you know, but I do have my limits! I would give Platform 9 ¾ a try.
"Is Mel Gibson paying us a visit then?" I hear you ask, who directed, produced and starred as the protagonist in the 1995 historical drama film 'Braveheart'. Sadly, I hate to disappoint folks, but I understand he has other plans at the moment. Therefore, I think it's about time that I cut to the chase as it were. If you've been following our social media channels over the past week then you'll be no stranger to the fact that BR Standard Class 4 '4-6-0' No 75014 has appeared, not to mention the rather obvious photographs posted up on here. 75014 is named 'Braveheart' after the aforementioned film.
BR Standard Class 4 '4-6-0' No 75014 - Photo courtesy of Kenny Felstead
For those of you not au fait with the likes of social media, you've probably worked out by now that 75014 'Braveheart' will be heading up to see us, and thus we’re pleased to announce the 'Standard' as our first guest loco for the Cotswold Festival of Steam (CFoS) between the 12th & 14th May 2023, courtesy of the Dartmouth Steam Railway. BR Standard Class 4s were regulars around the Gloucester area in steam days, and this is third time lucky for us, as she was originally scheduled to visit for the 2020 gala, and we all know what happened there! Anyway, onwards and upwards folks!
Not only will 75014 be visiting for our gala, she will also be calling GWSR home from the start of the season until the prestigious CFoS event. Don't miss your chance to see her on a rare trip away from her home railway! I must confess that I'm more than a tad excited about this as I am ever so slightly biased towards BR 'Standards'. Hopefully, one of these days we'll host my favourite of the three Standard 4 variants, this being the mighty 2-6-4 Tank. I have raised the subject of either 80135 or 80136 with my cousin who just happens to be a Fireman on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), although 80135 is currently undergoing restoration. Either way, it's a class of loco on my lengthy 'Bucket List'.
Preserved steam locomotive 75014 'Braveheart' stands next to the signal box at Kingswear, terminus of the Dartmouth Steam Railway. The 'signal box' is a new build that houses the company's offices and isn't actually used for signalling - This is controlled from a little box at Britannia Crossing - Photo © David Dixon
(cc-by-sa/2.0)
- geograph.org.uk/p/5858823
Paignton & Dartmouth Railway 75014 ‘Braveheart’ 30/09/22 - Video © Wheels in Motion
75014 was one of 80 BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 locomotives built between May 1951 and May 1957 at BRs Swindon Works (75000–75079). They were given the power classification of 4MT and supplied with either a BR1B, BR2 or BR2A tender, the latter two being the most common in use with the class, along with a Route Availability of 4 (RA4). The class were designed for mixed traffic work on secondary routes where the BR Standard Class 5 and their predecessors, the 'Black Fives', were too heavy. The characteristics of the class were very similar to those of the GWR Manor Class, and to all intents and purposes, they were essentially a tender version of the Standard 4 2-6-4T. It's a perfect fit for the GWSR.
The arrival of 75014 will neatly fill the gap following the expiry of Churchward 2-8-0T 4270's boiler certificate in January.
75014 'Braveheart' leaves Churston Station, headed for Kingswear - Photo © David Dixon
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/5858619
From the mid-1950s these useful BR mixed traffic engines started putting in appearances around Cheltenham and, as previously mentioned, Gloucester. The engines were distributed throughout Britain except on the Eastern Region (an order for ten - which would have been 75080-89 for the ER - was cancelled). Gloucester Horton Road and Barnwood sheds had allocations of them for a time, as did Worcester, Tyseley, Cardiff Canton and Bristol Barrow Road, the engines working regularly through the area. Swindon's allocation occasionally worked pick-up goods services between Andover and Cheltenham on the Midland and South Western Junction Railway (M&SWJR) route. They were well travelled locos.
75014, having set back onto the carriages, sets off towards Paignton. Seen from the level crossing - Photo © Michael Dibb
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/5428767
75014 was out-shopped at Swindon in December 1951 and was initially allocated to Patricroft. Between September 1953 and May 1967, the loco was allocated to a number of Motive Power Depots (MPD) including; Llandudno Junction, Chester, Mold Junction, Bletchley, Stoke and Croes Newydd. Of particular note is the fact that she was allocated to Tyseley in 1964, so it's plausible that she might then have worked over what is today the GWSR. After just 15 years of British Rail service, she was withdrawn from duty in December 1966 and sold to Woodham Brothers for scrap. 75014 made its way to Barry scrapyard in October 1967 where it languished until February 1981. In a dilapidated state, the loco was bought by a syndicate based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it was restored and subsequently returned to steam in 1994. This was the first time the engine had steamed in preservation since being withdrawn in 1966.
No. 75014 Braveheart is arriving at Kingswear ready for the return to Paignton - Photo © Chris Allen
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/7314303
Main Line 1997 WCRC Inverness to Glasgow 75014 - Video © Derek Penny Main Line Productions
Between 1995 and 1998, it operated the popular summer 'Jacobite' trains between Fort William and Mallaig. After missing a year, it returned in 2000 where it was given the name 'Braveheart' in recognition of the Mel Gibson film which was predominantly shot in the West Highlands of Scotland. The syndicate decided to sell the loco in 2002 and the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company were fortunate to become the new owners. The locomotive arrived at its new home during the same year and its boiler ticket expired in 2004. As a result of this, a major overhaul was required.
West Highland Railway line near Bad Abrach - Photo © Stuart Logan (cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/2421710
61264 & 75014 in the West Highlands in September 2000 - Video © Matt Fisher
The overhaul took several years, particularly in relation to the boiler, requiring many new parts, including a complete new boiler barrel. The loco was eventually returned to service in December 2016. Trials had been conducted earlier in the year in August but its entry into service was unfortunately delayed as a result of problems being discovered with superheater elements. Braveheart is a regular performer and has become a mainstay of steam services on the Dartmouth Steam Railway. Interestingly, a 'OO gauge' model of 75014 in its early BR guise with a BR2 tender is available from Bachmann.
75014 BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 leaving Grosmont tunnel and passing by the engine sheds on the NYMR - Photo © David P Howard
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/1696081
With progress on our very own 'Standard 4' moving along well (76077) this will be another excellent opportunity for the loco crews, fellow steam department volunteers, and of course, our valued visitors to experience a 'Standard 4' up close and personal once again. Many of you will remember the visit of 76017 from The Watercress Line for the Cotswold Festival of Steam event back in May 2017. 76017 is now under new ownership having been moved to Southall last year.
The good news is that we're only a month or so away before the start of our 2023 operating season. Come on sunshine!
75014 crossing the Broadsands Viaduct - Photo © Derek Harper
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/7000753
As we're on the subject of BR Standard 4s, here is a selection of historic photographs with most featuring our 76077.
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76077 at Winwick Junction 28th April 1966 - Photo © Rail-Online
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Additional photographs of 76077 and its restoration will be covered in a future blog instalment, so please stay tuned.
As mentioned earlier in this blog, here's a date for your diaries and an event not to be missed - CFoS 2023. Keep an eye out on here, the GWSR website, and on our Facebook pages for more loco news. Further announcements coming soon.
Relevant Facebook pages for the Cotswold Festival of Steam and 76077 can be found using the following links:
75014 hauls the 'Pines Express' to Minehead - Photo © Roger Cornfoot
(cc-by-sa/2.0) - geograph.org.uk/p/5561989
Seen as I started this blog asking if anyone had seen Braveheart recently, I'll leave you with a certain trailer to finish off.
"There's a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it."
Until next time folks... oh, and by the way, it looks like we're off to the beach!
Alex (the sooty one!). All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.
Standard 4 4-6-0s are cracking locos. Looking forwards to seeing her. Phil Bullock
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil. They are very versatile and certainly draw attention wherever they go.
DeleteSimply a superb blog...thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael, it won't be too long before the next one. :)
DeleteTwo observations - The 'signal box' at Kingswear isn't one at all, it's a new build that houses the company's offices. Signalling on the line is controlled from the little box at Britannia Crossing. Secondly, with regards to a tender for 76077, is a BR1B tender really suitable for a loco that will spend 50% of the time running tender-first? From a driver's sighting point of view I would have thought the BR2 or BR2A would be much better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the observations Aardvark11. I was not aware that the 'signal box' at Kingswear is a new build and isn't used for signalling. I will amend the blog accordingly. With regards to a tender for 76077, this is an ongoing discussion for the restoration team and there are pros and cons of the types you've mentioned. TSLL’s engineering director Andrew Meredith wrote an article on the subject and the possible options back in October last year. This can be found here.
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