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[[File: 64305_20100515064_305_BH_Yard_2.jpg |thumb|200px300px|right| 64 305 in May 2010Bridgnorth Yard in 1975]]

This locomotive was built by the German firm of Krupp in 1934 for the German state railway Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG). ==Service==The DRG Class 64 was a standard passenger train tank engine with a wheel arrangement of 1'C1' ([[UIC classification]]) or 2-6-2 ([[Whyte notation]]). This locomotive was built by the German firm of Krupp in 1934 for the German state railway Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG).

Number 305 Its first allocation in 1934 was purchased to Köln at Geldern shed for use on local passenger services. In March 1943 it transferred to Nürnberg at Würzburg shed, initially on passenger work and later on freight. At the SVR by end of World War Two it came under the ‘German 064 Klasse Fund’ “Deutsches Bundesbahn” (DB) West Germany State Railway under which in September 19741950 it received its first major overhaul since 1938. It was then allocated to Aschaffenburg, Bavaria working services to Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Gemunden and moved from Weiden depot near the Czech border to Stolberglatterly Miltenburg. In June 1975 a move It transferred to Zeebrugge took placeWeiden shed, with the locomotive being shipped by sea to Harwich. The locomotive finally arrived also in Bavaria, and its final months were spent on works trains at the SVR several weeks later on 16 July 1975Weiden depot, after a delay also in finding a suitable road route for the final part of the journeyBavaria, last working on 18 March 1974<ref>SVR Stock Book Fifth Edition</ref><ref>[https://davesrailphots.weebly.com/64-305.html David S. Harrison] (Retrieved 9 February 2020)</ref>.

The locomotive ==Preservation==Number 305 was steamed later in 1975purchased for use on the SVR by the ‘German 064 Klasse Fund’ on 27 May 1974 at a cost of £2, 724. In September 1974 the loco was moved from Weiden depot near the Czech border to Stolberg for storage until the funds for the purchase price and recorded 5 miles transport costs could be raised.<ref name=SVR36>SVR News 36</ref> The purchasing group confirmed that some modifications would be required including fitting of travela vacuum brake in addition to the existing air brake. This is believed to have They had also been made aware of a return trip from Bridgnorth recent Department of the Environment (DoE) requirement for the locomotive to Eardington, photographed by David Cooke [https://wwwbe "superimposed" passing under bridges and through platforms at 5 m.p.flickrh.com/photos/60790501@N04/8376035103 (here)] and [https://www.flickrmaximum line speed to demonstrate clearances, and had written to Germany for help on this matter.com/photos/60790501@N04<ref>SVR News 34</8377110962 (here)].ref>

It soon transpired that On 8 February 1975 a party from the SVR numbering around 25 visited Stolberg to inspect the loco.<ref>SVR News 35</ref> In spring 1975 a [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|raffle organised by the SVRA Wolverhampton Branch]] helped raise funds for the measurements [[List of preservation groups|German Tank Fund]].<ref>SVR News 39</ref> On Thursday 26 June 1975 the locomotive that had been provided prior was hauled by rail from Stolberg to purchase were incorrectRaeren in Belgium, and also that the Severn Valley Railway had not been built move through West Germany being steam hauled by 052 928-9. The following day the journey continued to standard GWR gauge as had been assumedZeebrugge. Significant modifications to On Monday 30 June the locomotive was loaded on the locomotive’s profile rail ferry and shipped by sea to platform clearances would have been required before Harwich where it could enter servicewas transferred into a siding. The locomotive left Harwich by road on 15 July 1975, so after a delay in 1977 the locomotive found finding a new home on suitable road route for the Nene Valley Railway, final part of the only UK heritage railway built journey. The journey to continental loading gaugeBridgnorth was completed on 16 July 1975 after an overnight stop.<ref name=SVR36/>

By autumn of 1975 305 had been successfully steamed on 4 occasions but with moves confined to Bridgnorth yard.<ref>SVR News 37</ref> The locomotive subsequently recorded 5 miles of travel, believed to have been a return trip from [[Bridgnorth]] to [[Eardington]], of which three photographs are shown below. It transpired that the measurements of the locomotive that had been provided prior to purchase were incorrect, and also that the Severn Valley Railway had not been built to standard GWR gauge as had been assumed Significant modifications to track alignment and platform clearances would have been necessary throughout the line, or major changes would have been required to the locomotive’s profile, notably cutting back the tank and cab sides and lowering the cab roof. A kinematic envelope of the locomotive’s profile against all structures down the line would then have to be produced before DoE permission could be obtained for the locomotive to enter service. The Fund’s shareholders therefore decided to sell the locomotive, so in 1977 the locomotive found a new home on the Nene Valley Railway which had been modified to cope with locomotives built to continental loading gauge.<ref>SVR News 45</ref> Restoration of the locomotive was subsequently completed at the Nene Valley, after which it saw regular service on the line and featured in several films. It was taken out of traffic in 1987, following which its air pump was used by Flying Scotsman during that locomotive’s tour of Australia in 1989-90. 305 is now stored at Wansford awaiting overhaul<ref>[https://davesrailphots.weebly.com/64-305.html David Harrison]</ref>. ==SourcesGallery==SVR NewsAll photos by David Cooke. <gallery>File:064 305 Stolberg, Germany 1969.jpg|64 305 at Stolberg, GermanyFile:064 305 BH Yard 1.jpg|64 305 in Bridgnorth Yard in 1975File:064 305 shunts Bridgnorth 1975.jpg|Shunting at Bridgnorth in 1975<br/gallery>Severn Valley Railway Stock Book=== Eardington Test Run ===Three photos of 64 305 on a test run back from Eardington, seventh editionits only known movement outside of Bridgnorth. <gallery>File:064 305 Eardington.jpgFile:064 305 Eardington 2.jpgFile:064 305 Eardington 3.jpg</gallery>