Trustworthy, administrator
6,609
edits
Changes
m
Link added
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]]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.
The locomotive is owned by [[The 75069 Fund]].
