BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019 - Photo courtesy of Peter Hackney
To allay any potential fears that I have been missing in action over the past month or so, I can confirm that I have not been living under the proverbial rock, which would be rather uncomfortable to say the least! I've been merely juggling a number of GWSR related 'hats' so to speak, or to coin the phrase 'the spinning of multiple plates!' - Sadly, I don't have a turntable at my disposal to spin, thus a few plates will have to suffice in this particular instance. Towards the end of February I was approached by the railway's resident Press Officer, Ian, to see if I would be interested in joining the PR & Communications team. As you might have guessed, Ian's proposition was dully accepted and I now have another hat!
My days now usually consist of multiple emails and a fair few Zoom meetings, but it's all good fun and helps keep things chuffing along the track. When I'm not chained to my keyboard I do get let out for good behaviour and I'm still very much an active member of the steam department. I jest of course, but a top tip for any budding volunteer is to make sure that you don't sit still for too long otherwise you may find yourself commandeered for other purposes. PR activities and particularly those in relation to gala planning have taken priority of late, hence why it's been a bit quiet on the steam department blog front. I will endeavour to keep you updated on activities as and when I can, so please don't worry folks.
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BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75014 'Braveheart' prepares to depart Winchcombe - 4th April 2023
Having already announced a Great Western Railway ‘Castle’ class, a British Railways Standard class 4 and a former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Pug’ tank locomotive for the ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’ (12-14 May 2023), I can now confirm the fourth visiting locomotive. The opening photograph is a bit of a giveaway but a versatile and popular 69-year-old British Railways mixed traffic 2-6-0 is to join the roster. The locomotive in question is BR Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 Mogul No. 78019, and is appearing by courtesy of the Great Central Railway, the Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group and the Charles Newton Trust. 78019 will be operating at the May festival alongside its previously announced bigger brother - BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75014 ‘Braveheart’, adding to an already impressive line-up.
The BR Standard 2 2-6-0s were derived from the earlier LMS Ivatt 2-6-0 moguls, of which 65 were constructed at Darlington Works between 1952 & 1956. They were assigned the 78XXX number range (78000–78064) and predominantly designed for light passenger work. From a mechanical perspective, they were virtually identical to their Ivatt predecessors, with some changes made to the controls and cab to enable the locomotives to fit within a universal loading gauge. Grease lubrication points were added along with the use of BR standard injectors and clacks.
The locomotives were fitted with BR3 3,000-gallon tenders, which, like the Ivatt moguls, featured a tender cab to improve visibility and crew protection when operating tender first. A further improvement with the tender involved using Timken roller bearings on the wheelsets. The locomotives gained a reputation amongst crews for being very sure footed and soon received the nickname ‘Mickey Mouse’ (as did their LMS Ivatt brethren). Speaking of LMS Ivatts, readers will remember that 46521 visited us last year for CFoS 2022 and then stayed with us throughout the summer holidays. We did have fun!
The locomotives were fitted with BR3 3,000-gallon tenders, which, like the Ivatt moguls, featured a tender cab to improve visibility and crew protection when operating tender first. A further improvement with the tender involved using Timken roller bearings on the wheelsets. The locomotives gained a reputation amongst crews for being very sure footed and soon received the nickname ‘Mickey Mouse’ (as did their LMS Ivatt brethren). Speaking of LMS Ivatts, readers will remember that 46521 visited us last year for CFoS 2022 and then stayed with us throughout the summer holidays. We did have fun!
BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019 - Photo courtesy of Peter Hackney
All 65 locomotives were in service by the start of 1957, with up to 10 being allocated to the Western Region (WR) between 1955 and 1966. Standard 2s could be found at Hereford (86C), Machynlleth (89C), Oswestry (89A), Worcester (85A) and Gloucester. Between 1962 and December 1965, a small number were allocated between Gloucester Barnwood (85E/85C) and Gloucester Horton Road (85B), including: 78001, 78004, 78005, 78006 & 78009. Barnwood shed closed on the 4th May 1964, which resulted in 3 being transferred to Horton Road - records indicate that these locomotives were: 78001, 78005 & 78006. Before and after the merger of the Gloucester sheds, one of the Standard 2s regular workings was the goods on the ex-Midland branch from Stonehouse to Stroud, Dudbridge, Woodchester and Nailsworth. The class were also used on passenger workings between Hereford and Gloucester and beyond.
Gloucester Horton Road shed was closed to steam on the 1st January 1966. Withdrawals of the class started in late 1963 with the final examples being withdrawn in May 1967.
Gloucester Horton Road shed was closed to steam on the 1st January 1966. Withdrawals of the class started in late 1963 with the final examples being withdrawn in May 1967.
BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019 - Photo courtesy of Peter Hackney
78019 was completed at Darlington in March 1954 and spent its early years in the North East and North West. Between 1954 and May 1963 the locomotive spent time at Kirkby Stephen (51H), Springs Branch (Wigan) (8F) and Northwich (8E). In late May 1963, 78019 was allocated to Willesden (1A), alongside a small group of 78XXXs to work empty stock trains out of Euston until the end of steam there. After spending some time at Crewe South (5B), 78019 was withdrawn from BR service in November 1966 - Like many of the BR Standard classes, the Standard 2s sadly had a very short life in active service. In hindsight, it was very short sighted, but the writing was on the wall with dieselisation picking up pace.
The locomotive was sold to Woodham’s yard in Barry, South Wales and remained there until March 1973. 78019 was purchased by Charles Newton and initially moved to a private site, before being transferred to the Severn Valley Railway where it sat for over 20 years. In 1998, following a deal between Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group Ltd and 78019’s owner, Charles Newton – where joint equal ownership was agreed, the locomotive moved to Loughborough and restoration began. 78019 was returned to steam on the Great Central Railway in 2004 and appeared at its Summer Gala.
The locomotive was sold to Woodham’s yard in Barry, South Wales and remained there until March 1973. 78019 was purchased by Charles Newton and initially moved to a private site, before being transferred to the Severn Valley Railway where it sat for over 20 years. In 1998, following a deal between Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group Ltd and 78019’s owner, Charles Newton – where joint equal ownership was agreed, the locomotive moved to Loughborough and restoration began. 78019 was returned to steam on the Great Central Railway in 2004 and appeared at its Summer Gala.
BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019 - Photo courtesy of Peter Hackney
Since being returned to steam, the Standard 2 operated successfully for ten years and went through routine maintenance, proving itself to be both an economical and capable locomotive. The boiler ticket expired in May 2015 and 78019 was subsequently put through heavy overhaul at Loughborough, with some work including the boiler being carried out at Tyseley.
78019’s overhaul was completed during 2022 before being returned to traffic again in November in time for the railways ‘Last Hurrah’ Gala, where it worked alongside sister locomotive no 78018.
78019’s overhaul was completed during 2022 before being returned to traffic again in November in time for the railways ‘Last Hurrah’ Gala, where it worked alongside sister locomotive no 78018.
Great Central Railway welcomes back 78019 at the 'Last Hurrah' Gala 20/11/22 - Video © FrontLineSteam
78019 is notable for being involved in a rescue effort when 78018 got stuck in a snowdrift at Bleath Gill near Stainmore Summit at 5am on the morning of the 24th February 1955. 78018 had departed Kirkby Stephen with a 4:20am goods train, made up of 20-ton wagons of limestone and minerals. The incident was the subject of the 1955 British Transport Film documentary ‘Snowdrift at Bleath Gill’ directed by Kenneth Fairbairn.
Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955) - Video © BFI
Tickets for the Festival are available online at https://www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala. With up to eight steam locomotives running, it will offer an action-packed timetable of trains, including goods trains and shunting demonstrations. The locomotive and carriage & wagon workshops will throw open their doors for rare behind-the-scenes visits and there will be plenty of other activity at the railway’s stations. The opportunity to travel between two visiting ‘Standards’ is not to be missed.
Further information about 78019 can be found here: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/the-railway/locomotives/78019-2/
Important Note:
New websites were launched earlier this year for both the GWSR and the
GWRT, thus any pre-existing bookmarks to the main blog page via the old
GWSR website will no longer work. The new websites can be found by
visiting https://www.gwsr.com/ (GWSR) and https://www.gwrt.org.uk/ (GWRT).
All of the departmental blogs can now be found on a new main blog page here: https://www.gwsr.com/knowledge/blogs
All of the departmental blogs can now be found on a new main blog page here: https://www.gwsr.com/knowledge/blogs
Until next time folks, further news and announcements are on the way!
A general steam department blog update is to follow in due course.
Alex (the sooty one!).
All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.
Own up, who’s had the nameplates off the Std4?
ReplyDeleteNot me guv, the nameplates are back on now :)
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