BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T at Neasden Locomotive Depot, taken 3 March 1957 - Photo © Ben Brooksbank (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/2817161
Oh where on earth has the time gone, if only I could summon Dr Who and the Tardis! But heyho, we must chuff on.
There's less than two weeks to go until our 'Autumn Showcase' event. Details & tickets are available here.
In
early August, we were excited to announce that, starting in
mid-February 2026, we will be welcoming the recently overhauled BR 4MT
2-6-4T No. 80105 to our railway for the year, thanks to the generous
support of Locomotive Owners Group (Scotland) Limited and the Bo'ness
& Kinnell Railway. Standard 4MT Tanks are a personal favourite of mine
and it will be great to have another tank engine on the roster,
following the departure of the sorely missed 4270 back in 2023.
With 7820 currently out of traffic undergoing overhaul and 35006 due to undergo the same in a few weeks time, it's imperative that the railway has adequate steam locomotive cover for the upcoming operating season. 80105 fits the bill.
These powerful BR stalwarts were initially allocated to each region of British Railways, with the exception of the Western Region. By the mid-1960s however, this changed as 15 members of the 155 strong class were reallocated to the Western as of 1964. Shed allocations included; Exmouth Junction, Neath, Swansea East Dock, Templecombe & Yeovill Town.
Regular visitors and followers of the GWSR will know that the railway is no stranger to BR 'Standards', with Toddington MPD playing host to various different examples over the years - not forgetting our very own Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76077, which was on display earlier this year during our Cotswold Festival Of Steam (CFoS). The restoration of this locomotive has progressed significantly over the past year and it is still hoped that 76077 will be operational by 2027.
Visiting BR 'Standards' to The Cotswolds have included: 70013, 75014, 75069, 76017, 78019 & 92203.
76077 Boiler Update - May 2025 - A video update detailing the progress and issues found during our boiler refurbishment at Leaky Finders Limited.
Further information on the restoration project and the locomotive can be found on the official 76077 website here.
76077 on shed at Toddington for the GWSR Cotswold Festival of Steam – May 2025. Photo: Andrew Beale
Time for some history on 80105 with information from the SRPS. Further details on the loco can be found here.
80105 Standard 4 2-6-4T at Loughborough GCR - Photo © Polyrus
Locomotive 80105 was built at Brighton Works in 1955 and rolled out that April. It was one of a batch designed for the London, Tilbury and Southend line, running out of Fenchurch Street in London. For several years, it handled suburban passenger trains on this busy route. These locomotives had a few interesting features for their time — they were fitted with the early LMS (Hudd) automatic train control system on the rear bogie, and each came with a speedometer straight from new. In fact, the speedometer fitted to 80105 today is still the original one. Back then, the engine cost £17,651 to build — quite a sum for the 1950s!
When first introduced, 80105 was based at Plaistow depot in East London, but after that shed closed in 1959, it moved to Tilbury, where it continued to work LT&S services until the line’s electrification in 1962. By that time, the engine was only eight years old but no longer needed for its original duties. It spent a short spell stored at Old Oak Common, before being reassigned to the Western Region for work on the scenic Cambrian Coast route. During this period, it was based at Machynlleth, Shrewsbury, and Croes Newydd, before finally being withdrawn in 1965.
When first introduced, 80105 was based at Plaistow depot in East London, but after that shed closed in 1959, it moved to Tilbury, where it continued to work LT&S services until the line’s electrification in 1962. By that time, the engine was only eight years old but no longer needed for its original duties. It spent a short spell stored at Old Oak Common, before being reassigned to the Western Region for work on the scenic Cambrian Coast route. During this period, it was based at Machynlleth, Shrewsbury, and Croes Newydd, before finally being withdrawn in 1965.
British Railways Standard 4MT 2-6-4 tank 80105 at Bo'ness - Photo © Robert McCulloch
While in service, 80105 received an overhaul at Crewe Works in 1960, where it was fitted with a new boiler — No. 1300 — which proved to be in excellent condition. Its original boiler, No. 1334, still survives today on sister engine 80079 at the Severn Valley Railway.
After withdrawal, 80105 made its way to the now-famous Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. Like many engines there, its non-ferrous parts were removed, but much of the rest of it stayed intact. In 1972, members of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) visited Barry in search of a good example of a Standard Class 4 tank — and 80105 caught their eye. It was in decent condition, with most of its motion still attached and the connecting rods safely stored in the bunker.
After withdrawal, 80105 made its way to the now-famous Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. Like many engines there, its non-ferrous parts were removed, but much of the rest of it stayed intact. In 1972, members of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) visited Barry in search of a good example of a Standard Class 4 tank — and 80105 caught their eye. It was in decent condition, with most of its motion still attached and the connecting rods safely stored in the bunker.
80105 at Machynlleth Depot 27.6.1965 - Photo © John Hill
Fundraising began soon after, and with the creation of the Locomotive Owners’ Group (Scotland) Ltd, enough money was finally raised to bring 80105 home. In October 1975, the locomotive was moved by road to Larbert, inspected by British Rail, and cleared to travel by rail to the SRPS depot at Falkirk. The journey went smoothly — thanks, in part, to liberal amounts of castor oil applied to the axle bearings!
Once at Falkirk, 80105 was dismantled and its frames taken indoors. Unfortunately, progress stalled when it was discovered that the rear frame stretcher, which supports the firebox, was far too corroded to repair. Despite an attempt to fix it, work largely stopped throughout the 1980s. When the Falkirk depot closed in 1989, the engine was moved to Bo’ness, where restoration could eventually continue.
Once at Falkirk, 80105 was dismantled and its frames taken indoors. Unfortunately, progress stalled when it was discovered that the rear frame stretcher, which supports the firebox, was far too corroded to repair. Despite an attempt to fix it, work largely stopped throughout the 1980s. When the Falkirk depot closed in 1989, the engine was moved to Bo’ness, where restoration could eventually continue.
One of the first outings for this loco, which suffered leaking stays and was not seen for some time after this trip. 21/01/06. Published in Main Line Magazine - Photo © John Neave
With the Bo’ness workshop up and running, restoration work restarted properly in 1992. The locomotive was re-wheeled in 1995, and its boiler sent to Babcock for repairs. New castings and fittings were sourced, and even the cab fittings — which had been hidden away in a member’s loft for ten years — were recovered and refitted.
After years of hard work, 80105 finally steamed again on 11 December 1999. Since then, it’s been a regular sight on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, and has also visited the Caledonian Railway at Brechin and the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore. In 2000, it even made a special trip to Polmadie Depot in Glasgow to celebrate the site’s 150th anniversary. Over the years, 80105 has earned a great reputation — it’s a strong, free-steaming engine that’s lived up to every expectation its owners had.
After years of hard work, 80105 finally steamed again on 11 December 1999. Since then, it’s been a regular sight on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, and has also visited the Caledonian Railway at Brechin and the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore. In 2000, it even made a special trip to Polmadie Depot in Glasgow to celebrate the site’s 150th anniversary. Over the years, 80105 has earned a great reputation — it’s a strong, free-steaming engine that’s lived up to every expectation its owners had.
No. 80105, built in Brighton, 1955, at Bo'ness, 28 June, 2025 - Photo © Kenneth G. Williamson
Its boiler certificate expired in September 2010, and it was withdrawn for another full overhaul. The Standard Tank returned to service once more just in time for the Bo'ness and Kinneil steam gala in October 2024.
The BR Database entry for 80105 can be found here.
Further photographs of 80105 can be found here: https://www.srpssteam.com/80105-galleries/
80105 Steaming up - Video © BONESS27001
Looking ahead to next year, 2026 is coming together with some confirmed event dates as follows:
Ever wondered what it’s like to volunteer at the GWSR?
I have said this before and I will say it again. Give it a go... I did and it's the best decision I ever made!
For those of you who use Facebook, here are a number of GWSR related groups which are worth following:
That's all for now folks and I shall endeavour to keep you updated on a more frequent basis!
I aim to have a more in depth 'on shed' update fairly shortly.
Another 'Footplate Experience' about to get underway with 2807 - 10th October 2025
Burning nicely aboard 2807 - 10th October 2025Alex (the sooty one!).
All published photographs and videos are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.
80105 locomotive history based on information from SRPS Steam / Dr Alister McPhee.
