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BR Riddles 4MT 75069

408 bytes added, 16:20, 13 July 2020
75069 in preservation: mileage
{{Infobox black steam loco
|image = Standard class 4MT 75069 at Hastings, Ashford 15075069_20190514.jpg|caption = BR Standard 4MT 75069 at Hastings circa 1992
|construc = BR Swindon Works
|wheels = 4-6-0
|power = 25,515 lb
|pressure = 225 lb/sq in
}}[[File:Standard class 4MT 75069 at Hastings, Ashford 150.jpg|thumb|300px|right|75069 at Hastings circa 1992]]'''75069 ''' is a BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 locomotive designed by R.A. Riddles. The Standard 4MT was designed for mixed traffic use on secondary routes where the BR Standard Class 5 and its predecessor, the ‘Black Five’, would be too heavy.
==75069 in service==
75069 was one of the final batch allocated to the BR Southern Region, which were built with a larger tender giving greater coal and water capacity but with the same route restrictions as the Standard Class 5.
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After a lengthy period in storage, hopes of a return to service were raised in early 2009 when work was carried out to assess the condition of the boiler. However this assessment revealed that significant work would be required<ref>SVR News 168</ref> and [[GWR Pannier 1501 | 1501]], seen as a potential quick turnaround, was selected for overhaul instead.<ref>SVR News 169</ref> 75069’s Heavy General repair finally began in early 2013<ref>SVR News 180</ref>: the boiler barrel and much of the firebox was entirely new and many of the fittings and almost all of the pipework were replaced. A new cab, new smokebox and chimney, replacement steelwork in the tender coal space and new drag box were among other major repairs. Work cost over £900,000 and involved more than 25,000 man hours of effort.<ref>Express Points, January 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-47237824/men-rebuild-steam-engine-for-severn-valley-railway BBC News 15 February 2019] (Retrieved 16 February 2019)</ref> Although initially advertised as returning to traffic prior to both the 2017 and 2018 [[Autumn Steam Gala|Autumn Galas]]s, the locomotive's first test runs started 11 December 2018 with her boiler exam two days later.<ref>The Railway Magazine, January 2019, p.66</ref> She returned to traffic 16 February 2019 at the start of the season's services.
In the early morning of 22 July 2019, 75069 collided with a [[Tales from the Severn Valley#Minor_Derailments|fallen tree]] between [[Hampton Loade]] and [[Country Park Halt]] while running light engine from Bridgnorth to work a service train from Kidderminster. The locomotive’s bogie was derailed and although the bogie axles were found not to have been bent, a number of front end fittings were damaged including the guard irons, steam heat and vacuum pipes, and a cylinder drain cock casting and drain pipe.<ref>Steam Railway Magazine Issue 496, p 13, ''Severn Valley '4MT' derailed after hitting tree'', statement attributed to [[Severn Valley Railway Engineering Services|ESMP ]] Manager Neil Taylor.</ref> After repairs, the locomotive resumed service on Friday 6 September.
At the end of 2019, 75069 had recorded a total of 63,467 miles in preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on the main line and on hire to other railways.<ref>SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard</ref> The locomotive is owned by [[The 75069 Fund]].
==See also==
[[Category:Operational steam locomotives]]
[[Category:SVR fundraising lotteries]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
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