GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall
6960 Raveningham Hall was resident on the SVR between 1977 and 1995.
The SVR’s 4930 Hagley Hall is an example of the original Collett design of this successful mixed traffic locomotive. In 1944 F.W. Hawksworth, Collett’s successor as GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer, introduced a modified version of the Hall with improved cylinder steam passages, a longer wheelbase with extended main frames, and a re-designed bogie. 6960 was out-shopped in March 1944, and in June 1947 received the name Raveningham Hall after a stately home in East Anglia. The locomotive worked out of London’s Old Oak Common in the 1940s, Reading in the 1950s and latterly Oxford until being withdrawn from service by BR in June 1964.
The locomotive was restored at ‘Steamtown’, now the site of West Coast Railways base at Carnforth. In May 1977, then owner Brian Thomas moved the locomotive to the SVR, where it continued in service until 1981. Following an overhaul 6960 returned to service in 1983; this second ‘ticket’ lasted the full 10 years to 1993. A third period of service began in late 1995, before the locomotive left the SVR in 1996.
While at the SVR 6960 hauled a number of rail tours on the main line, including being the first SVR based engine to haul a main line rail tour in April 1978. It also acquired the nicknames ‘Ratbag Hall’ and 'Raving Mad Hall'.
As of December 2016, 6960 Raveningham Hall is based at the West Somerset Railway.
Sources
SVR News
Severn Valley Railway Stock Book, seventh edition.
Locomotive Services Ltd's website 'Icons of Steam'
'Preserved GWR Modified Hall Class locomotives' on Wikipedia