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.
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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.
75069 was built in 1955 at BR’s Swindon works and entered traffic at Dover. After just 11 years in service around London and the South Coast, the locomotive was withdrawn from service at Eastleigh in September 1966.[1]
Being a Southern engine 75069 is paired with a BR1B tender. This weighs approximately 49 tons (49.94 t), carrying 4,250 gallons of water and approximately 7 tons of coal.
75069 in preservation
75069 arrived on the SVR from Barry Scrapyard on 31 March 1973. After a restoration lasting more than 11 years, the locomotive finally entered service in 1984. This period of service included working railtours on the main line as well as on the SVR itself. Details of the railtours worked were as follows:
| Date | Tour name | Route | Notes | Web | SVR News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Mar 1985 | Red Dragon | Newport - Swindon - Gloucester | 75069 first main line run | 76-30 | |
| 27 Jul 1985 | Red Dragon | Newport - Worcester Shrub Hill | D/H with 92220, after attending Newport open day | SBJ | 77-10 |
| 27 Aug 1985 | GW150 Celebrations Excursions | Swindon - Gloucester - Swindon | Shared duties with Clun Castle | SBJ | 77-16 |
| 01 Sep 1985 | GW150 Celebrations Excursions | Swindon - Gloucester - Swindon | Shared duties with Clun Castle | SBJ | 77-16 |
| 22 Mar 1986 | South Yorkshireman | Tyseley (LE) - Saltley - Marylebone | Took over from 777 Sir Lamiel | SBJ | 79-6 |
| 12 Apr 1986 | William Shakespeare | London Marylebone - High Wycombe - Banbury - Stratford | SBJ | 80-14 | |
| 31 May 1986 | Red Dragon | Hereford - Newport - Swindon | D/H with 5690 (SBJ incorrectly shows as 31 March) | SBJ | 79-20 |
| 28 Jun 1986 | Swindon-Newport-Herfeford | D/H with 5690 | 81-40 | ||
| 28 May 1987 | Cardigan Bay Express | Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 | 85-33 | ||
| 29 May 1987 | Cardigan Bay Express | Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2 | 85-33 | ||
| 12 Sep 1987 | John Player Special | Nottingham - Tyseley | Tour continued to London with Clan Line | 86-11 | |
| 13 Sep 1987 | Derby - Matlock x2 | 87-2 | |||
| 16 Jun 1991 | Cambrian Limited | Barmouth - Shrewsbury | (7819 worked the outward leg) | SBJ | 100-38 |
| 23 Jun 1991 | Cambrian Limited | Barmouth - Shrewsbury | (7819 worked the outward leg) | SBJ | 100-38 |
| 19 Oct 1991 | Cam 85 Special | Crewe - Hereford - Kidderminster | W.A. 'Cam' Camwell Birthday special | SBJ | 106-50 |
| 07 Jun 1992 | Ashford 150 Festival | Ashford - Hastings - Ashford | SBJ | 103-19 | |
| 28 Jun 1992 | Devon Belle | Exeter Central - Salisbury | SBJ | 103-19 | |
| 28 Dec 1993 | Christmas Steam Special | London Victoria - Brighton - London Victoria | SBJ | ||
| 27 Apr 1994 | Exmoor Explorer | Kidderminster-Minehead | 111-41 |
In 1987, 75069 was due to work a full Cardigan Bay Express season along with 7819 Hinton Manor, but was unable to complete this due to mechanical issues. 'Mickey Mouse' 46443 proved a worthy replacement.
75069 was last in service in 1994. As of 2016[update], 75069 is being overhauled at Bridgnorth Loco Works.
One major task that has already been completed is that of complete replacement of the dragbox. Additionally, during dismantlement of the cylinders the flange of one of the rear cylinder covers was found to be broken. A pattern for the replacement (along with its other handed partner) is in the course of construction in the SVR's pattern shop.
The locomotive is owned by The 75069 Fund.
See also
References
- ↑ BRDatabase Retrieved 29 January 2015.