Changes

|image = 4930_201310064930_Bridgnorth_20220909.jpg|caption = 4930 Hagley Hall prior to the 2013 tender exchangeon relaunch day, 9 September 2022

'''4930 Hagley Hall ''' is a '''GWR Collett 4900 Hall Class ''' locomotive. The Hall was a mixed traffic locomotive, serving a similar role on the GWR to that carried out by the Stanier ‘Black 5’ on the LMS. Stanier worked for the GWR before moving to the LMS, and the Black 5 drew on many of the Hall’s Hall's design features. Like the Black 5, the Hall was rated 5MT by BR post-nationalisation, although its wide cylinders meant it was mainly restricted to ex-GWR routes. A total of 258 'Collett' Halls were built between 1928 and 1943. 11 were preserved, although one (4942 ''Maindy Hall'') has since been converted into the 'Saint' 2999 ''Lady of Legend''. 4930 Hagley Hall is the second oldest surviving example and {{as of|2022|lc="y"}}, the oldest in steam. 4930's sister locomotive [[GWR 4936 Kinlet Hall|4936 Kinlet Hall]] has visited the SVR on several occasions.  Collett's successor Frederick Hawksworth produced a modified version of the design, of which a further 71 were built by the GWR and BR up to 1950. The 'Modified Hall' included a new 'straight-sided' tender (later also re-fitted to some early Collett Halls). Seven Modified Halls were preserved, including former SVR resident [[6960|6960 Raveningham Hall]], although one (7927 ''Willington Hall'') is being used as the donor for the 'Grange' and 'County' re-creation projects.

4930 was built in May 1929 at the GWR’s Swindon Works and as part of Lot 254, at a total cost of £5,151 including the GWR's newly introduced ATC gear. It entered service at the [[Wolverhampton#Wolverhampton Railway Works | Wolverhampton Stafford Road Depot]]. As well as Wolverhampton’s Stafford Road and Oxley depots, other pre-War shed allocations included Chester, Tyseley and Leamington as well as brief periods in the south west.

In GWR records show that 4930 received a new boiler, no C.8227, at Swindon during its final heavy general repair at Swindon on 13 April 1961 at 1,217,568 miles.  4930 was photographed on 1 June 1963 at the head of a parcels train approaching Hereford.<ref>Photo in SVR News 36</ref> Later that month, Adrian Vaughan’s biography ‘Signalman’s Twilight’, he recounts that on 29 June 1963 4930 was the only spare locomotive available to replace a Western class diesel which failed near Swindon when working a Milford Haven to Paddington express. Supposedly restricted to working low class goods services due to her run-down condition, Hagley Hall was nevertheless timed at 82mph passing Didcot and covered the 53 miles from Didcot to Paddington in 45 minutes.<ref>Signalman’s Twilight, Adrian Vaughan, Chapter 12</ref> Following this swansong, 4930 was withdrawn from service by BR in on 2 December 1963 after a working life of 1,295,236 miles, an average of about 100 miles per day over the locomotive's working life.<ref>[http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=4930&loco=4930 BR database. Stephenson Loco Society records have November 1963] (Retrieved 18 November 2019)</ref>  The locomotive was acquired by [[Barry Scrapyard | Woodham Brothers scrap yard]] at on 30 April 1964 and delivered to Barry in May 1964of that year. [[Viscount Cobham]] obtained one of the original 'Hagley Hall' nameplates from Lord Beeching, which he lent to the [[Richard Dunn]] to have copies cast in preparation for the locomotive's recovery from Barry and subsequent restoration.<ref>SVR News 43, "Viscount Cobham", Obituary by R.H. Dunn</ref>

SVR policy in the earliest years of preservation was that locomotives should be acquired by individuals or groups rather than the railway itself. However following the incorporation of [[SVR(H)]] in March 1972 at the instigation of [[Sir Gerald Nabarro]], SVR News announced in summer 1972 that the company was in the course of acquiring 4930 Hagley Hall from Barry. The indicative cost including purchase and restoration was given as £4,000. A preserved 4,000 gallon tender, no 2740, had already been acquired from Swindon for use with the locomotive.<ref>SVR News 24</ref> At the time the deal was the subject of a disagreement between Nabarro and [[Richard Dunn]] who had suggested it should be a private purchase, and was also badly received by the railway's volunteers; not least because the locomotive was seen as a vanity purchase being too heavy to run on the SVR at that time.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 181.</ref><ref group="note">Two other 'overweight' locomotives had also arrived around that time. Viscount Garnock's 3442 The Great Marquess had been described as being capable or running on the railway, although it clearly was not, while 70000 Britannia was not allowed to cross Victoria Bridge with a full boiler.</ref> Having been bought by SVR(H) in June 1972 and , 4930 was moved from Barry to Bewdley by rail, arriving on 6 January 1973. A six -year restoration began, initially at Bewdley . The boiler had been lifted by autumn 1972,<ref>SVR News 29</ref> and was moved during the 'big lift' of five boilers on 3 May 1976.<ref>SVR News 40</ref> Around that time the SVR Board confirmed that funds would be made available to complete the restoration, and in autumn 1977 a committee of five members was set up to monitor the expenditure.<ref>SVR News 45, General Manager's Notes</ref>  In winter 1977 4930 moved to Bridgnorth where the restoration would be completed at Bridgnorth. A portion <ref>SVR New 46</ref> After that time much of the restoration was led carried out by the late Ray Tranter; his work and that of Dave Reynolds on 46521 being described by Chief Engineer [[Alun Rees]] as "The nearest which the Locomotive Department has come to one-man projects". By spring 1979 the mechanical work was complete with the locomotive awaiting completion of the boiler.<ref>SVR News 51</ref>

During summer 1979, attention switched to restoration of the Hawksworth tender, with 4930's main line debut provisionally scheduled for September 1979. Restoration was completed in August 1979 when test running was undertaken. A month later 4930 fully entered service and on 22 September 1979 made her main line debut, working double-headed with fellow SVR locomotive LMS 5000 from Hereford to Chester and return with the SVRA “The Inter-City” charter.<ref>SVR News 53</ref> 4930 was due to attend [[Rocket 150]] at Rainhill in 1980, but two weeks before the event was determined to be out of gauge for the platforms at Rainhill and Earlestown, with Didcot's 5051 ''Drysllwyn Castle'' (a.k.a. ''Earl Bathurst'') attending instead.<ref>SVR News 56</ref> However the locomotive made a number of other main line appearances in the next few years as listed below. In late 1983 Brian Thomas, then owner of Hawksworth Modified Hall [[6960|6960 Raveningham Hall]], agreed to a temporary tender swap for filming purposes. 4930 was fitted with 6960's Collett 'step-sided' tender, appropriate for an original Hall, while 6960 was fitted with 4930's straight-sided Hawksworth tender.<ref>SVR News 70</ref> The following year, 4930 hauled the official reopening train for Kidderminster Town Station on 30th July 1984. Shortly after the opening day 4930 suffered several burst 'small tubes', which were replaced in time for a return to traffic just before the autumn '[[Autumn Steam Gala|Enthusiasts' Weekend]]'.  <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:4930 HAGLEY HALL at Wistanstow.jpg | Welsh Marches Express 26 Feb 1983File:Opening train - geograph.org.uk - 248546.jpg | Kidderminster opening July 1984 File:Hagley Hall arrives from Ludgershall - geograph.org.uk - 2470163.jpg|Hagley Hall at Andover in 1986.</gallery>

4930 hauled the official reopening train for Kidderminster Town Station on 30th July 1984. She made a number of other [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line | mainline appearances]]. Most notably, 7819 Hinton Manor and 6000 King George V were due to complete a two-day return trip to Plymouth and back as part of the GWR 150 celebrations in April 1985. The King failed with a 'hot box' during the first day. 4930 made a light engine move overnight from Bridgnorth to Plymouth, notably joining 7819 for a storming double-headed run with 7819 Hinton Manor back over the South Devon banks during the GWR 150 celebrations in 1985following day.<ref>SVR News 76</ref><ref group="note">7819 had also failed with a hot box on the first day, the excursion being completed with diesel haulage. Fortunately spare parts were available and 7819 was repaired at Exeter with tools borrowed from BR, before also moving light engine to Plymouth. </ref> A full list of those 4930's main line appearances is as follows:

4930's last main line duty was two days of Andover – Ludgershall steam specials in March 1986. No further trips were envisaged as the 7-year main line boiler ticket was due to expire later that year.<ref>SVR News 80</ref> A further three years of home use might have been expected, but 4930 was withdrawn from service in October 1986 following the extensive failure of a number of steel stays on the firebox doorplate.<ref>SVR News 83<Gallery/ref>  ===Storage===4930 did not steam between 1986 and 2022, the longest period any current locomotive has spent ‘out of ticket’ after working at the SVR. The intervening years were initially spent in store in the headshunt at Bridgnorth, with little activity on the locomotive taking place. In late 1996 Raveningham Hall acquired new owners and left the railway, ending the 'temporary' tender swap and resulting in Hagley Hall being reunited with its incorrect Hawksworth tender. File:In early 1999 the Swindon Steam Museum contacted the SVR to ask if 4930 HAGLEY HALL could be placed on loan as a static exhibit at the Designer Shopping Complex (sited on the former GWR Swindon Works), taking the place of former SVR Resident [[City of Truro]] which was returning to the NRM. In April 1999 the SVR(H) Board agreed and a cosmetic restoration began at WistanstowBridgnorth. This began with steam cleaning the lower works and reinstalling a number of fittings which had been removed for storage. The locomotive was also repainted in GWR Hawksworth-era livery as appropriate for its tender. The work was completed on 20 May 1999, with 1930 moving by rail to Kidderminster and then by road to Swindon, arriving on 25 May 1999. The loan was then expected to be for 'at least two years'.<ref>SVR News 130</ref>  The move to Swindon stimulated interest among the working members for an eventual return to steam.jpg Being company-owned, 4930 had no separate owning organisation to provide stimulus and support for this. A "Hagley Hall Restoration Group" was therefore established, with the approval of SVR(H) and the support of the [[SVRA]], and intended to be made up principally of the younger generation of working members. The first open meeting was held on 25 July 1999, just two months after 4930's move to Swindon. The group quickly morphed into the [[Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall]] and began fund raising.<ref>SVR News 190, 207</ref>  At the end of 2005 the SVR received the necessary funding to enable the construction of the new [[The Engine House | Welsh Marches Express 26 Feb 1983FileEngine House]] at [[Highley]] to take place, with 4930 intended to be 'the prime exhibit'.<ref>SVR News 152, 156</ref> With construction almost complete, 4930 left Swindon on 7 June 2007, spending a day ''en route'' at the real Hagley Hall courtesy of Lord and Lady Cobham, probably the only time a Hall class locomotive has visited the hall after which it was named.<ref>[http:Opening train - geograph//www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk /pages/4930_returns_home.html Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall - 248546The Journey Home]</ref> However the [[2007 Storm Damage | freak storm damage]] in 19 June meant 4930's move into the Engine House was delayed until March 2008, where the locomotive would spend the next five years.  <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">4930_Highley_20120512.jpg | Kidderminster opening July 1984 4930 Hagley Hall in the Engine House, 12 May 2012

4930 had An [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC#Share offers|SVR(H) share offer in 2012]] sought to raise £4m for a various projects including the [[Bridgnorth#Bridgnorth_Development_Project|Bridgnorth Station Development]] and the overhaul of Hagley Hall. The 'futuristic' design of the former proposal was not steamed since 1986well received, with only £2m being raised by the longest period any current locomotive has spent ‘out close of ticket’ the offer in 2013. Nevertheless, 4930’s long-awaited overhaul began with a move to [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] on 6 October 2013. Two days later 4930 was again paired with the correct Collett style tender after working at a permanent exchange of tenders was agreed with the SVRcustodians of [[6990 Witherslack Hall]]. The intervening years were initially spent Collett tender, which was described in store at SVR News as "''…in similar poor condition to the Hawksworth one''" was moved into the BridgnorthWorks where the Friends of Hagley Hall and other volunteers could begin dismantling it. Following The tender tank was considered beyond repair and quotes were obtained for constructing a cosmetic restoration new one.<ref>SVR News 184</ref> The contractors Adam Dalgleish Engineering completed the new tender tank in 1999July 2015, 4930 was placed on loan as a static exhibit at retaining it in storage until needed by the Designer Shopping Complex (sited on the former GWR Swindon Works)SVR. <ref>Friends of Hagley Hall News page</ref>

On 7/8 June 2007, 4930 returned from Swindon with the intention of featuring in the new [[The Engine House | Engine House]] at [[Highley]]. En route 4930 spent a day at the real Hagley Hall courtesy of Lord and Lady Cobham, probably the only time a Hall class locomotive has visited the hall after which it was named.<refgallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">[http://www4930_20131006.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/pages/4930_returns_home.html Friends of jpg | 4930 Hagley Hall - The Journey Home]with Hawksworth tender leaving Highley on 6 October 2013</refgallery> The move into the Engine House was then delayed until 2008 by the [[2007 Storm Damage | storm damage in 2007]].

4930’s long-awaited overhaul began with a move from During 2014 the Engine House to [[Bridgnorth Loco WorksCharitable Trust]] secured a £95,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the overhaul of 4930, which would be used to fund the cost of apprentices working on 6 October 2013the loco as part of their training. In March 2017 The tender tank was removed using the [[Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane RS 1087| Friends of Hagley Hall30-ton steam crane]], in partnership with Severn Valley Engineering Servicesand the tender wheelsets were sent to South Devon Railway for new tyres to be fitted. Work on the tender chassis then started, formulated by a detailed programme for completion combination of the overhaul. This "''2020 Visionpaid staff and Friends''" envisaged a return to steam in 2020junior members.<ref>[http://www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/news/news.html Friends of Hagley Hall SVR News update 7 March 2017 '4930 Our 2020 VISION']185, 186, 187, 188</ref> This During 2015 work was stymied again mainly focussed on the tender chassis. By spring, fabrication of a new tender tank was under way at Adam Dalgleish Engineering and the wheelsets were returned. By the end of the year the locomotive's boiler has been removed, mostly by volunteer labour, to allow volunteer work to begin on the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]]. Overhaul continued until 2022boiler, with and also to allow a more detailed examination of the first movements in May 2022severely-corroded exhaust passages.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmay22 Branch Lines May 2022]SVR News 189, 190, 191, 192</ref>

Notable features 2016 again saw much of the overhaul included:*4930 is now paired with work on the correct Collett style tender rather than her previous Hawksworth style onechassis. On the locomotive, following an exchange with stripping the custodians main cylinder block revealed a number of [[6990 Witherslack Hall]] on 8 October 2013areas which had suffered severe corrosion. In 2017 a new tender tank Later that year the insurance test for the 30-ton steam crane was delivered and fitted.*On 10 April 2018 used as an opportunity to remove the boiler departed for Northern Steam Engineering Ltd. at Stockton, for overhaul. *The cylinder block was found to have been previously patched, and was considered beyond repair. New cylinder blocks were produced: 3D Computer Aided Design work by Stafford Road Design Ltd., casting by Shakespeare Foundry in Preston, Lancashire allow it to be split and machining by Harco Engineering. Machined cylinders returned to Bridgnorth on 14 June 2019examined more closely.<ref>Railway MagazineSVR News 193, 194, July 2019195, p.72196</ref>*The driving wheels were sent new tender tank was delivered to the South Devon Railway in 2018 for fitting of new tyresSVR on 24 October 2016.

By early 2017 the cylinder block was found to have been previously patched, and was considered beyond repair. The decision was therefore taken that a new cylinder block would be required. Stafford Road Design Ltd were appointed to design the polystyrene patterns using for casting replacement cylinder. The casting by Shakespeare Foundry in Preston, Lancashire would be the first cylinders to be cast for a Hall in more than 50 years. Work in earnest on the locomotive overhaul was expected to begin by the end of the year.<ref>SVR News 197</ref> In March 2017 the Friends, in partnership with Severn Valley Engineering Services, formulated a detailed programme for completion of the overhaul. This "''2020 Vision''" envisaged a return to steam in 2020.<ref name=FOHHN>[http://www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/news/news.html Friends of Hagley Hall News update 7 March 2017 '4930 Our 2020 VISION']</ref>  In early 2018 lack of available space in the SVR's boiler shop resulted in a decision to sub-contract out the boiler overhaul.<ref group="note">Boilers for the 42968, 82045 and 4150 were all in progress. 4930's boiler was selected for sub-contracting because as a company loco, no negotiation with an owning group was needed. Also Heritage Lottery money and fundraising support from the Friends was available.</ref> On 9 April 2018 the boiler departed for Northern Steam Engineering Ltd. at Stockton, for overhaul.<ref>SVR News 203</ref>. The driving wheels were also sent to the South Devon Railway in 2018 for fitting of new tyres. By the start of 2019, the tender had become a fully wheeled chassis, with the new tank being fitted in March.<ref name=FOHHN/> The locomotive frames had been fitted onto new stands which had been sourced to avoid extended use of the works' jacks and to ensure the new cylinders could be fitted without movement in the frames. A number of further issued had been encountered including a cracked boiler crown, cracked expansion slides on the boiler sides, and a cracked vacuum cylinder on the tender.<ref>SVR News 205</ref> The new cylinder blocks had been machined by Harco Engineering and were returned to Bridgnorth on 14 June 2019<ref>Railway Magazine, July 2019, p.72</ref> where they were trial fitted. A new drag box was designed, manufactured and fitted over a period of around three months.  By Q3 of 2019 the plan for 4930 was for the boiler to be completed and returned to Bridgnorth in Q4 of 2019, the loco to be re-wheeled in the first half of 2020, followed by boiler installation and completion of the final fitting out leading to a steaming date in the latter part of 2020.<ref>SVR News 207</ref>. Unfortunately 2020 progress was significantly affected by the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]] which meant for some months no work could carried out, or work only carried out by small numbers of paid staff. The boiler was eventually returned from Northern Steam Engineering just before Christmas 2020.<ref>SVR News 213</ref> In spring 2021 the frames were moved onto the works' jacks and raised so that the locomotive could be re-wheeled.<ref>SVR News 214</ref> The boiler was steam tested on 15 September and trial fitted into the frames in October. On 8 December the lagged and almost fully clad boiler was refitted to the frames and the locomotive moved back from the boiler shop to the works for fitting out and painting. The plan had been to have the locomotive complete before the 3-month closure of the works for fitting a new roof. In the end this was not quite possible, with the last stages being completed in the MPD yard. The locomotive moved in steam for the first time within the MPD yard on 11 May 2022.<ref>SVR News 216, 218</ref><ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blmay22 Branch Lines May 2022]</ref> On 22 June 2022 the locomotive was signed off to begin line testing, beginning with a run to Hampton Loade paired with visiting locomotive 2999 ''Lady of Legend'' and returning solo. Further light engine and loaded test runs took place in July and August, with the locomotive painting also being completed in GWR lined green with small GWR logo on the tender. The relaunch of 4930 Hagley Hall took place on Friday 9 September 2022, with around 200 invited guests attending a dedication ceremony at Kidderminster and travelling on two return trips to Bridgnorth, the first official passenger carrying journeys by the locomotive since October 1986.  <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">4930_Eardington_20220909.jpg | The inaugural relaunch day train on Eardington Bank</gallery> A comprehensive record of the overhaul can be found on the news section of the [http://www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/news/news.html Friends of Hagley Hall web site].

Mileage is recorded during the first boiler ticket was as follows:

*[[Steam Locomotives]]<br>*[[List of preservation groups]]<br>*[[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/>

*[http://www.4930hagleyhall.org.uk/ Friends of Hagley Hallwebsite] Retrieved 23 January 2015<br>*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_4900_Class GWR 4900 Class on Wikipedia]

[[Category:Lottery funding]] [[Category:Featured articles]]