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61994 The Great Marquess (LNER 3442) was resident on the SVR between 1972 and 2005, and returned as a Gala visitor in spring 2010.
==Service==
The Great Marquess is an LNER K4 class 3-cylinder 2-6-0 Mogul locomotive, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for use on the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig. The locomotive was out-shopped from the LNER Darlington works in June 1938 and entered service as LNER No 3442. A post-war renumbering exercise by the LNER saw the locomotive become No 1994 in September 1946, with a further re-numbering to 61994 by BR in 1948.
The locomotive’s working life was mostly spent at the Glasgow and Fort William depots, before being withdrawn from service by BR at Dunfermline Upper depot in December 1961.
==Preservation==In 1962 the locomotive was bought by [[The Earl of Lindsay | Viscount Garnock]] (later the Earl of Lindsay), and under his ownership worked a number of main line rail tours between May 1963 and April 1967. This included the Stephenson Locomotive Society tour on 19 September 1965 from Birmingham Snow Hill via Worcester to Bewdley, from where the Society visited Alveley with a special train hauled by GWR locomotives 4555 and 1420.<ref>[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/650919sl.html Six Bells Junction]</ref> Following the BR steam ban, the locomotive was stored in Leeds awaiting boiler repairs.
By the early 1970s, Viscount Garnock was already associated with the fledgling SVR, being a non-executive Director of both the original Severn Valley Railway Company and its successor, SVR(H), from incorporation in 1972. The locomotive was moved to the SVR for overhaul on 9 September of that year, a condition of the move being that it could be used there once restored. Steaming was achieved in 1973 with 200 miles being recorded. However the locomotive’s axle weight in excess of 19 tons exceeded the limit of 17 tons 12 cwt in the SVR's Light Railway Order granted in May 1970. The locomotive was therefore stored while discussions took place over a possible transfer to another railway. In the meantime a program of work was underway to upgrade the line, as a result of which the locomotive remained at the SVR.
In March 2010 the locomotive made a return visit to the SVR, in BR Black livery as 61994, for the spring ‘Reunion’ Gala.
==See also==
*[[Former Residents]]
==SourcesReferences==<references/>
SVR News<br>
Severn Valley Railway Stock Book, seventh edition.
