GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall

GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall
6960 in October 2014
Built By	GWR Swindon Works
Configuration	4-6-0
Power class	GWR: D, BR: 5MT
Axle load class	GWR: Red
Status	In service
Loco Number	6960
History
Built	1944
Designed By	Frederick Hawksworth
Type	GWR 6959
1977	Arrived on SVR
1996	Left SVR
2019	Returned to SVR on hire
Technical
Length	63ft 0¼"
Weight	75t 16cwt
Tractive effort	27,275 lb
Pressure	225 lb/sq in
Steam Locomotives

6960 Raveningham Hall, a GWR 6959 Class 'Modified Hall', was resident on the SVR between 1977 and 1996. The SVR’s 4930 Hagley Hall is an example of the original Collett design of the successful 4900 Hall Class 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.

Contents

6960 in service

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The locomotive worked out of London’s Old Oak Common in the 1940s, Reading in the 1950s and latterly Oxford until being withdrawn from service by BR in June 1964.

6960 in preservation

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 following a change of ownership.

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, F&W Railtours "Cathedrals Express" from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978. It also acquired the nicknames ‘Ratbag Hall’ and 'Raving Mad Hall'.

During that time it also featured in TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway, such as Surprise Surprise (1984) and Virtual Murder (1992).

6960 is now based at the West Somerset Railway. In 2019 an agreement was reached to send 7802 to the WSR between May and October with Raveningham Hall coming to the SVR for a similar period, including the Autumn Gala.

See also

Former Residents
The Severn Valley Railway on the main line
List of film and TV productions filmed on the Severn Valley Railway
Steam Locomotives hired by the SVR

References

SVR News
Severn Valley Railway Stock Book, seventh edition.

Links

Locomotive Services Ltd's website 'Icons of Steam'
'Preserved GWR Modified Hall Class locomotives' on Wikipedia