BR Riddles 4MT 80079

Revision as of 20:54, 29 January 2015 by Robin (talk | contribs) (add picture and more text)

80079 in service

80079 is a BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T tank engine designed by R.A. Riddles. The Class 4 tank engine was derived from the ex-LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T, and was used mainly on commuter and outer suburban services.

75069 was built in 1954 at BR’s Brighton works and entered service at Plaistow in March of that year, before moving to Tilbury a month later.[1] While hauling a passenger train on 30 January 1958, 80079 overran signals in thick fog and was in a rear-end collision with another passenger train at Dagenham, Essex. Ten people were killed and 89 were injured.[2]

After repair, 75069 continued in service at Tilbury, before moving to the Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham in July 1962. The locomotive was withdrawn from there in 1965 and taken to Barry.[1]


80079 in preservation

80079 at Rainhill

80079 arrived from Barry on 15 May, 1971. After restoration, 80079 entered service in 1977.

While at the SVR, 80079 has also worked on the main line and took part in the grand parade at the Rocket 150 celebrations at Rainhill in May 1980.

80079 is currently on display in The Engine House. It is owned by The Passenger Tank Fund.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 [BRDatabase] Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. Red for Danger. Rolt, L.T.C. (1955, rev. 1966)