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}}'''Manning Wardle [[Whyte notation | 0-6-0ST]] Works No 2047''', built in 1926, was the last locomotive to be built by the Leeds firm of Manning Wardle & Co before the Company closed due to company went into voluntary liquidation in 1927 as a result of the post World War One recession. It was assembled using standard parts from various other classes, but is visually similar to the standard Manning Wardle "Q" class. <ref group="note">Heritage Railway Magazine 17 September 2017 describes it as an N Class.</ref> The boiler was constructed using an antiquated lap joint design rather than butt joints which had become the norm for railway locomotive boilers by that time.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 45.</ref>

2047 was ordered on 17 April 1926 and delivered to Rugby Portland Cement Co Ltd (RPC) at their New Bilton Works near Rugby on 9 August 1926, where it joined three earlier Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST and one Peckett 0-4-0ST locomotives. It remained there throughout its working life apart 2047's earlies duty was to haul wooden-framed tippler wagons up the steeply graded line from the limestone quarry to the crushing plant, for which it was fitted with wooden dumb buffers (which can be seen in the picture below) in addition to the sprung buffers. At some time before the war RPC began to use dumper trucks due to the increasing depth of the quarry, with the locomotives then being used to shunt coal and chalk (the latter from the Company's Totternhoe Works near Dunstable) from a brief the exchange sidings on the Rugby to Leamington line to the works. 2047 briefly move to RPC’s RPC's nearby Southam Cement Works during 1943before returning to Rugby.<ref name=Shaw47>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] pp. 47-50. </ref>

In 1948 a Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 0-6-0ST, 'Number 5', arrived and by 1950 all the other locomotives apart from 2047 had been transferred to Dunstable or had been cut up. In 1954 2047 received a new inner firebox and other major firebox repairs. The locomotive Around that time a conveyor system was finally withdrawn from use installed to bring the stone out of the quarry and the track in December 1966.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 49the quarry was lifted.</ref>

In 1964 the company installed a pipeline to pump chalk slurry from Dunstable, with the locomotives after that time only needed for moving coal from the exchange sidings. Also in 1964 a vertical boilered Sentinel, no 9559 of 1953<ref group="note">Sentinel 9559 is now preserved at the Tanfield Railway</ref> arrived from Dunstable to replace Number 5 which was unserviceable. In 1966 Number 5 was cut up for scrap. The same year the company decided that a diesel locomotive would be more economical as only three to four hours of work per day were needed for this task. Although 2047 was withdrawn from use in December 1966, it remained on the 'active list' until May 1967 when it was offered for sale at the modest price of £150, the company being keen to see the locomotive preserved<ref name=Shaw47/>.  <gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:S0702_2047_Oct67_D_Cooke.jpg | 2047 at Rugby in 1967 at the time of purchase by the SVR WILPG (D Cooke)

Following withdrawal, RPC offered the locomotive to the Warwickshire Railway Society. A number of their members formed a separate group, the [[Warwickshire Industrial Loco Locomotive Preservation Group | Warwickshire Industrial Loco Preservation Group]] was formed (WILPG)<ref>SVR News 13</ref> and raised the necessary funds raised by a share through an issue (of 30 shares at £10 each to pay the purchase cost of £150 for the locomotive and a further £150 for transport (£55) and spares). <ref>[https://davidncooke686.jimdofree.com/6-wilpg-mw2047-he686/ 'WILPG' page, David Cooke's website]</ref><ref group="note">David Cooke states that the WILPG began with 30 Members. SVR News 13 suggested there were 25 members involved; it is not clear if this was an error in SVR News or whether some members purchased more than one share.</ref> After an inspection was carried out in July 1967, 2047 was purchased and arrived on the Severn Valley Railway on [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1965-1969#1967 |22 October 1967]].<refname=Shaw51>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 51.</ref>

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The After arrival the locomotive was first steamed in December 1968 stripped and initially finished in an unlined pale blue liverythe boiler hydraulically tested. The dumb buffers were removed during this time. Black and white lining and A number of missing parts were replaced, including the sanding gear which was obtained by permission of Birmingham City Council from sister locomotive 2015,<ref group="Warwickshirenote" name plates were later applied >Manning Wardle 2015 is now preserved at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre</ref> then on static display in time for a planned naming ceremony in 1970children's playground near Duddesdon.<ref name=Shaw51/> After repairs and reassembly, although this had to be re-arranged and 2047 was eventually carried out first steamed on 3 April 1971 by Mr H A Vigar, the former manager of RPC’s New Bilton Works21 December 1968.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw Williams (19981974)]] p. 52-536.</ref>

The owning group had originally intended to paint 2047 in maroon livery, but instead it was initially finished in an unlined pale blue livery to avoid a clash with the ICI red livery of [[686 The Lady Armaghdale]] which the group were in the course of acquiring. Black and white lining and "Warwickshire" name plates were later applied in time for a naming ceremony due to have taken place in 1970 and been carried out by the SVR's operating superintendent [[Bill Gillett]]. Unfortunately an accident on BR meant that he was unable to carry out this duty and the re-arranged naming ceremony was eventually carried out on 3 April 1971 by Mr H A Vigar, the former manager of RPC's New Bilton Works.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 52-53.</ref>  <gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:S0724_2047_Dec68_D_Cooke.jpg | First steaming trip from Bridgnorth in December 1968 (D Cooke)

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, 2047 and the other small industrial locos 686 and [[Peckett 1738]] were used for general shunting duties and on works trains as well as providing an attraction for visitors.<ref>SVR News 18, 26</ref> In August 1974, 2047 attended the Town and Country Fair at Stoneleigh. For the occasion the locomotive was repainted in a ‘Caledonian Railway’ 'Caledonian Railway' lined blue livery and, with the consent of the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, the Warwickshire Crest (the ragged bear and staff) was hand painted on the cab sides. The locomotive was confined to a short demonstration track only 40 feet in length, but managed to accumulate 8&frac12; miles in the course of giving 2,500 footplate rides.The locomotive was originally delivered to the SVR facing south but returned to the SVR facing north, the only occasion on which it has changed direction to date<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 54.</ref>. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">S0788_MW2047_Bridgnorth_1974_David_Cooke.jpg|2047 in August 1974, just before the visit to Stoneleigh as it is still facing south.</gallery>

In 2047 was the only 'non-passenger' steam locomotive to see use in 1974. Apart from the trip to Stoneleigh it was used regularly throughout the year on shunting duties at Bridgnorth, reaching Highley on at least two occasions and even shunting at Alveley Sidings. However in 1975 2047 it was withdrawn after the Easter weekend for the boiler to be retubed. It spent the rest of the year in storage before work could begin.<ref>SVR News 38-39</ref>  2047 returned to service in 1977, being mainly used on works trains at Arley. In However in December of that year a leaking fusible plug was discovered and the locomotive was again withdrawn. Although this would normally be expected to be a simple fix, a series of delays followed, mainly due to the lack of available boilersmith resources and the relative low priority of a locomotive not used on passenger services. By 1983 only a brief examination had been carried out which determined that the failed plug was not a BR standard size. A more detailed inspection in 1984 determined that the inner firebox fitted in 1954 had become very thin and would require considerable work; also the smokebox, smokebox door and ashpan would need to be replaced and the boiler retubed again.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 55.</ref>

By 1988 the work had still not been carried out, and work on other boilers was being delayed while the new Bridgnorth boiler shop was built. The WILPG therefore sent the boiler from 2047 Warwickshire to Pridhams for overhaul. By August 1989, a report had been received confirming that the thickness of the boiler plate was below the acceptable level for further use and that repairs would not be economical. In addition, the use of the lap joints (see below) would potentially make the boiler uninsurable even if it was repaired.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 56.</ref> The firebox was removed from the boiler in order to determine if a repair would even be possible. At the same time the WILPG sought quotes for the cost of a new boiler (£40,000+ at that time), and also undertook a search for a second-hand boiler which could be tailored to fit the locomotive. The option of repair was quickly ruled out and the search for a suitable second-hand boiler proved unsuccessful.<ref name=Shaw58>[[Bibliography#Books | Shaw (1998)]] p. 56.</ref> In June 1992 it was agreed to return the boiler so that 2047 could be cosmetically restored and placed on static display at [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]]. After discussions between the WILPG and the SVR as to which party was responsible for the cost of the new boiler, the WILPG agreed to undertake the work. In November 1993 the WILPG formed the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust (WILT) to raise funds for building the new boiler.<ref name=Shaw58/>

In June 1992 it was agreed Prior to going on display, the WILPG had intended to return repaint 2047 in the boiler so 'Caledonian Blue' livery that 2047 could be cosmetically restored and placed on static display at it still carried. However their other locomotive [[Kidderminster Railway Museum686 The Lady Armaghdale]]. In November 1993had recently adopted the blue 'Thomas' livery, so for a second time the WILPG formed the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust Group opted for a livery change for 2047 to raise funds for building avoid a new boilerclash. The cosmetic overhaul was completed in June 1995, included repainting into with 2047 reverting to the original RPC green liverywith red, black and yellow lining. After a period on display at Hampton Loade, 2047 was put on display outside Kidderminster Railway Museum on 15 February 1997. Although not capable of being steamed, it would masquerade as 'Percy' from time to time during 'Thomas the Tank Engine' weekends.<ref name=Shaw58/>

Note: The locomotive was first steamed in December 1968 as recorded in David Cooke's photograph above. It then worked in ever year until withdrawal in 1975.<ref>SVR News 38, p.22</ref> However none of the cumulative mileage tables in SVR News show any mileage before 1971.

The long -awaited overhaul of 2047 began in with a move to Bridgnorth in November 2010. In 2013 quotations between £61,390 and £101,433 were obtained for the new boiler with an estimate of overhaul cost from the SVR of £184,306.<ref>[https://davidncooke686.jimdo.com/7-wilt-registered-charity-no-1041723/ 'WILT' page, David Cooke's website] (retrieved 17 February 2018)</ref> {{As of|2018}} the The overhaul is in progress progressed at the [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]], although a with re-wheeling taking place in December 2018.  A number of smaller components have been were moved to [[Bewdley]] and on 25 November 2018 the original boiler, smokebox and saddle tank were moved there on [[GWR 42343 Machinery Flat|Loriot N 42343]]. On 28 March 2019 the locomotive chassis was moved by [[BR Class 33 33108]] from Bridgnorth to [[BewdleyDown Yard]] for work restoration to continue. 2047 was shunted under cover on 30 March 2021, talking the place formerly occupied by [[4150|GWR Large Prairie 4150]].<ref>[http://wilt.jimdo.com/7d-mw2047-restoration-progress/ WILT Restoration page]</ref>  {{As of|2022|07}} an order for the new boiler was anticipated to be done thereplaced later in that year. <ref>Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust Facebook post 11 July 2022</ref>  Pictures of the latest progress at both locations can be seen on the [http://wilt.jimdo.com/7d-mw2047-restoration-progress/ Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust web site 2047 restoration page] and the [https://www.facebook.com/groups/525132404750071 Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Trust Group Facebook page].

New cylinders were lifted & installed on 1 July 2018. On 14 July 2018 the original boiler, smokebox and saddle tank were lifted onto [[GWR 42343 Machinery Flat|Loriot N 42343]] by the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087|30-to steam crane]], in preparation for a planned move of the locomotive chassis and other components to Bewdley later in 2018.<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">

<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File: Boiler_joints.jpg | Illustration of lap joint and butt jointFile: 2047_Boiler_20160713.jpg | Lap joint in 2047’s boiler (right)File: Boiler_butt_joint_external_20160713.jpg | Butt joint (external view) File: Boiler_butt_joint_internal_20160713.jpg | Butt joint (internal view)

*[[Steam Locomotives]]<br>*[[Warwickshire Industrial Loco Preservation Group | Warwickshire Industrial Loco Locomotive Preservation Group]]<br>*[[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events]]<br>*[[Rolling stock currently under restoration]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/>

[[Category:Locomotives at BridgnorthRolling stock in Bewdley Down Yard]][[Category:Featured articles]]