BR Riddles 4MT 80079

BRBritish Rail or British Railways RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. 80079
80079 at Bridgnorth
Built By	BRBritish Rail or British Railways Brighton Works
Configuration	2-6-4T
BRBritish Rail or British Railways rating	4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic.
Status	Out of service
Loco Number	80079
History
Built	1954
Designed By	Robert RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives
Type	BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. Tank
1971	Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway
1977	First steamed in preservation
2002	Withdrawn for overhaul
Technical
Length	60ft 0"
Weight	67t 18cwt
Tractive effort	25,515 lb
Pressure	225 lb/sq in
Steam Locomotives

80079 is a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Standard Class 4 2-6-4T tank engine designed by R.A. RiddlesRobert Arthur "Robin" Riddles, Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering responsible for the design of the British Rail Standard Class locomotives. The Class 4 tank engine was derived from the ex-LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway FairburnCharles Edward Fairburn, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1944-1945 2-6-4T, and was used mainly on commuter and outer suburban services. A total of 155 were built, of which 15 have survived into preservation. They had a BRBritish Rail or British Railways route availability classification of RA5; when used on BRBritish Rail or British Railways Western Region running lines such as the Severn Valley branch this equated to a Blue route availability.

Towards the end of their life members of the class were regularly based at Shrewsbury, from where they saw occasional use on the Severn Valley Branch during commercial service, particularly at the north end of the line. These included 80079, one of only two present day SVRSevern Valley Railway residents to have done so (the other being GWR Large Prairie 4150). Classmate 80078 was also recorded on the Branch in service; it has since visited the SVR in preservation as has 80136.

80079 in service

80079 was built in 1954 at BRBritish Rail or British Railways's Brighton works and entered service at Plaistow in March of that year, before moving to Tilbury a month later. From there, 80079 mainly worked passenger services between London Fenchurch Street and Tilbury, Southend and Shoeburyness. A feature of these London, Tilbury and Southend section engines was that they were fitted for the early LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway (HuddAlfred Ernest Hudd (c. 1883 – 1958), patenter of an Automatic Train Control system, who later worked as a consultant engineer to the signal department of the LMS.) form of Automatic Train Control and this was provided on the rear bogie. They were also speedometer fitted from the start.

While hauling a passenger train on 30 January 1958, 80079 overran signals in thick fog and was in a rear-end collision with another passenger train at Dagenham, Essex. Ten people were killed and 89 were injured. After repair, 80079 continued in service at Tilbury until rendered redundant by electrification of those lines. A number of the 2-6-4T class were then transferred to the Western Region, with 80079 moving to the Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham in July 1962, from where it would regularly have worked services to Shrewsbury.

John Stretton captions an image of 80079 emerging from Bridgnorth Tunnel on 30 August 1962 on the 7.27p.m. Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury. The locomotive was withdrawn from Croes Newydd in July 1965 and taken to Barry Scrapyard, arriving in January 1966.

80079 in preservation

80079 at Rainhill, May 1980

Welsh Marches Pullman with 43106, February 1983

80079 was considered the best of the 14 standard tanks at BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation.. An appeal by the 'Passenger Tank Fund' for funds to acquire the locomotive was published in SVRSevern Valley Railway News in Autumn 1970. A share issue to raise the £3,000 purchase price was successfully completed by Spring 1971 and 80079 became the 13th locomotive to leave BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation., arriving at the SVRSevern Valley Railway by rail on 15 May, 1971. A video of the move "From BarryWoodham Brothers Scrapyard, Barry, South Wales. The source of many locomotives now in preservation. to Bridgnorth" is available on YouTube (external link). It is fitted with boiler No 1334, originally fitted to classmate 80105 (like 80079, a locomotive used on the Severn Valley Branch in BR days).

Restoration began immediately at Bridgnorth. The locomotive was steamed in early 1977, including a test run to Hampton Loade, and entered revenue earning service on 17 April 1977. It quickly gained a reputation as a strong free-steaming engine, and despite a limited water capacity, went on to make an impressive number of appearances on the main line. A number of these were in tandem with fellow classmate 80098. A list of these is set out below.

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVRSevern Valley Railway News
19 Apr 1980	Black Countryman	Hereford - Manchester Victoria (+ Northwich L/E)	D/H with 5000. 80079 first main line run	SBJ	56-9
20 May 1980	Rocket 150 Rainhill	Northwich-Bold Colliery	L/S, with 35028		56-9
09 Jun 1980	Rocket 150 Rainhill	Bold-Colliery-Bridgnorth	D/H + LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway coach		56-9
19 Feb 1983	Welsh Marches Pullman	Shrewsbury - Craven Arms - Leominster - Hereford	D/H with 43106	SBJ	68-30
26 Feb 1983	Welsh Marches Pullman	Hereford - Newport - Hereford	D/H with 43106	SBJ	67-31
16 May 1993	The LlanDod Local	Shrewsbury?-Knighton-Llangynllo-?Carmarthen?			107-9
30 May 1993	Pembroke Coast Limited	Carmarthen - Tenby, Carmarthen - Swansea		SBJ	107-45
31 May 1993	Pembroke Coast Limited	Carmarthen - Milford Haven - Carmarthen - Swansea*	*D/H with 44767	SBJ
06 Jun 1993		Carmarthen-Shrewsbury	D/H with 44767		108-51
30 Aug 1993	Jolly Fisherman	Nottingham - Skegness - Nottingham		SBJ
03 Oct 1993	Cambrian Coast Limited	Crewe - Aberystwyth - Crewe	D/H with 80080	SBJ
23 Oct 1993		Pantyffynnon - Shrewsbury	D/H with 80080	SBJ
01 May 1994	Semper Fidelis	Bristol Temple Meads (or Barnstaple)? - Exeter St Davids	Top/Tail with 80080	SBJ
02 May 1994		Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids - Paddington	D/H with 80080	SBJ
07 May 1994	Folkestone Harbour Shuttles	Folkestone Harbour - Folkestone East (multiple)	Top/Tail with 80080	SBJ	111-40
29 May 1994	Steam on the Met	Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles	London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)		111-41
19 Nov 1994	Capital Envoy	Worcester Shrub Hill - London Paddington	D/H with 46521, prior to working Santa specials in the London area	SBJ	113-9
01 Jan 1995		Didcot-Worcester	D/H with 46521
20 May 1995	Steam on the Met	Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles	London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)		115-51
28 May 1995	Steam on the Met	Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles	London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)		115-51
29 May 1995	Steam on the Met	Amersham - Harrow-on-the-Hill shuttles	London Underground 'Steam on the Met' (2 weekends)		115-51
24 Sep 1995		Snow Hill - Stourbrige Junction Shuttles x4	Snow Hill Line reopening specials		116-17
21 Dec 1996	Bletchley to Bedford 150	Bletchley-Bedford (4 round trips)			122-11
10 May 1997	Private Charter	Snow Hill-Didcot +return			123-13
05 Oct 1997		Shrewsbury-Tywyn-Shrewsbury			125-9
29 Mar 1998	Cambrian Coast Express	Shrewsbury-Tywyn-Shrewsbury	Did this run?	UKS
29 Apr 1998		Worcester-Hereford-Shrewsbury-Crewe	Did this run?	UKS
02 May 1998	Conwy Climber	Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe	Ran to Bettwys-y-Coed only (stalled near Roman Bridge)	SBJ	127-62
03 May 1998	Conwy Climber	Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe	First standard gauge steam loco to Blaenau in 30 years	SBJ	127-62
04 May 1998	Malvern Tank	Crewe-Hereford-Worcester	Failed at Shrewsbury	UKS
10 Oct 1998	Ynys Mon Express	Crewe-Holyhead + return		UKS
11 Oct 1998	Conwy Climber	Chester-Llandudno Jct-Blaenau + return x2		UKS
20 Mar 1999		Bristol-Tytherington/Westerleigh Shuttles	Ran as scheduled	UKS
21 Mar 1999	Avonmouth Shuttles	Bristol-Avonmouth x3	Ran as scheduled	UKS
02 Apr 1999	Dawlish Donkey	Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3			130-32
03 Apr 1999	Dawlish Donkey	Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3			136-60
03 Apr 1999	Dartmoor Pony	Exeter-Meldon Quarry +return
04 Apr 1999	Dawlish Donkey	Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3
04 Apr 1999	Globe & Laurel	Exeter-Exmouth + return
05 Apr 1999	Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3	Exeter-Newton Abbot-Exeter x3
05 Apr 1999	Heathfield Mule	Exeter-Heathfield + return
01 May 1999	London Standard	Leicester-Corby -Bletchley-Stratford	With 80098
02 May 1999	LTSR Steam Shuttles	Fenchurch St-Shoeburyness + return	With 80098		130-60
03 May 1999	LTSR Steam Shuttles	Fenchurch St-Shoeburyness + return	With 80098, ran as scheduled		130-62
22 May 1999	Inter-City Tanks	Finsbury Park-Kemble -Stourbridge Jct-Tyseley	With 80098
16 Oct 1999	Three Spires Local	Birmingham Int-Aston-Lichfield-Derby -Leicester-Crewe	With 80098
17 Oct 1999	Slate Miner	Crewe-Blaenau-Crewe	With 80098		131-74
11 Dec 1999	Midlander	Bromsgrove-Blackwell	Banking 45110 over the Lickey Bank
For further information on sources and references, see The Severn Valley Railway on the main line

In December 1981 filming took place for an episode of ITV’s Game for a Laugh. This featured musician and entertainer Joe Brown firing 80079, a job he previously did for BRBritish Rail or British Railways while a fireman at Plaistow.

In early 1987 work was carried out on the boiler in an attempt to extend the 'ten year ticket' for a further three years. This was partially achieved, with 80079 being withdrawn due to loose/thin flue tube ends in early 1989. Apart from the boiler, the locomotive was considered in good condition mechanically, so when an overhaul began in 1990 the work mainly comprised new bunker platework, new pipework, reconditioned cab fittings and repairs to the tanks. Some attention was also required to the frame. In spring 1991 an SVRA Birmingham Branch raffle helped raise funds for the boiler work.

80079 returned to service in May 1993, making an early appearance on the Central Wales main line before spending the summer at the Llangollen Railway. During the second ticket the locomotive was a consistent performer and in 2000 recorded 12,849 miles, the highest mileage of any SVRSevern Valley Railway locomotive in any single year between 1967 and 2004. The locomotive finally succumbed to tube failure in summer 2002, shortly before the 'ten year certificate' expiry date.

80079 has recorded 103,509 miles in preservation. The mileage by year as reported in SVRSevern Valley Railway News is as follows:

Year	Mileage
1977	2,775
1978	5,235
1979	1,935
1980	2,260
1981	5,457
1982	1,776
1983	4,663
1984	4,024
1985	2,826
1986	153
1987	3,698
1988	3,161
1989	462
1993	4,045
1994	4,027
1995	5,426
1996	7,161
1997	7,872
1998	7,553
1999	9,241
2000	12,849
2001	6,160
2002	750
Total	103,509

After cosmetic restoration at Bridgnorth, 80079 was temporarily placed on display at the NRM Shildon in March 2005. It was then one of the first batch of locomotives to be displayed in The Engine House at opening in 2008. It has remained on display there since, although it has occasionally been shunted outside to be re-positioned or turned on Kidderminster Turntable (locomotives at either end of the Engine House generally face towards the centre as seen below).

• 

  80079 in 2009 after entry in 2008, facing south

• 

  80079 in March 2011 after being moved

• 

  80079 in May 2011 after being turned to face north

• 

  80079 in July 2012 after being moved

As of 2024 80079 has been turned to face south again and is back in the 2008 location. The locomotive is owned by The Passenger Tank Fund.

Reported sale

Railway Herald magazine reported on 7 November 2011 that a special meeting of the Passenger Tank Fund had been arranged for 30 October 2011 to discuss and vote on a proposed sale of the locomotive to Mr Jeremy Hosking. No such sale took place.

See also

• Steam Locomotives
• The Severn Valley Railway on the main line
• SVR-based locomotives visiting other events
• Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas
• Steam Locomotives hired by the SVR
• Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service for further details of the Class's use on the Severn Valley branch

Notes

References

Links

• BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T on Wikipedia
• Ministry of Transport Report on the Collision which occurred on 30th January 1958 at Dagenham East Station