GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall
GWR 6960 Raveningham Hall | |
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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 |
Contents
6960 in service
6960 was out-shopped from Swindon in March 1944 as the second member of Lot 350. The locomotive initially operated without cab side windows as part of wartime blackout regulations. In June 1947 it received the name Raveningham Hall after a stately home in East Anglia.[1]. The locomotive worked out of London’s Old Oak Common in the 1940s, Reading in the 1950s and latterly Oxford until being withdrawn from service by BR in June 1964.[2]
6960 in preservation
6960 left Barry in October 1972 as the 26th departure and moved to ‘Steamtown’, now the site of West Coast Railways base at Carnforth.[3] There it was acquired by Mr Brian Thomas and following restoration took part in the 1975 Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon.[1]
In May 1977, 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, F&W Railtours "Cathedrals Express" from Hereford to Chester on 8 April 1978.[4] 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).
While at the SVR Raveningham Hall recorded 69,392 miles as follows:
Year | Mileage |
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1977 | 380 |
1978 | 2,540 |
1979 | 3,890 |
1980 | 2,300 |
1981 | 2,382 |
1983 | 115 |
1984 | 7,261 |
1985 | 6,224 |
1986 | 5,514 |
1987 | 7,527 |
1988 | 4,798 |
1989 | 5,144 |
1990 | 2,922 |
1991 | 8,419 |
1992 | 5,399 |
1993 | 3,016 |
1995 | 51 |
1996 | 1,510 |
Total | 69,392 |
Following a decision by the owner to sell the locomotive, 6960 left the Severn Valley Railway in late 1996, initially moving to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.[5] 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 Steam Gala.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SVR Stock Book Eighth Edition
- ↑ BRDatabase
- ↑ Beckett & Hardingham (2010) p. 74.
- ↑ SVR News 48
- ↑ Severn Valley Railway News 121,p. 20.
- ↑ NBI 21 May 2019
Links
Locomotive Services Ltd's website 'Icons of Steam'
'Preserved GWR Modified Hall Class locomotives' on Wikipedia
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