GWR Large Prairie 4141

GWR Large Prairie 4141
S7605 4141 Hampton Loade.jpg
4141 at Hampton Loade in 1973
Built By GWR Swindon Works
Configuration 2-6-2T
BR rating 4MT
Status Under overhaul
Loco Number 4141
History
Built 1946
Designed By Charles Collett
Type GWR 5101
1963 Withdrawn and sent to Barry scrapyard
1973 Arrived on SVR
1988 Left the SVR
1998 Returned to steam
2007 Visited the SVR
Technical
Length 41ft
Weight 78t 15cwt
Tractive effort 24,300 lb
Pressure 200 lb/sq in

Steam Locomotives

GWR Collett 5101 class 'Large Prairie' 4141 is a classmate of SVR-residents 4150 and 5164. It was resident on the SVR between 1973 and 1988, although restoration was never completed. A brief description of the 5101 Class is included in GWR Large Prairie 5164.

Contents

4141 in service

4141 was built at Swindon to Lot 335 and out-shopped in August 1946. It was based at the Cheltenham and Gloucester (Horton Rd) depots for its entire working life which lasted less than 17 years. It saw use on Cheltenham to Kingham and Gloucester to Hereford trains.[1] It was first reported as withdrawn on 19 July 1962, although Control subsequently said they had no knowledge of this and that it was under repair. It was eventually withdrawn by BR on 1 March 1963[2] and sent to Barry Scrapyard in August of that year.

4141 in preservation

4141 in September 2013
In 1970 SVR member Peter Waite expressed an interest in purchasing the locomotive and, with assistance from the '4141 Hampton Loade Locomotive Fund', 4141 arrived on the SVR from Barry on 6 January 1973 in a convoy which also included 5164, 4930 Hagley Hall and 7819 Hinton Manor.[3]

After a brief period of storage at Bewdley, 4141 was towed to Hampton Loade by WD 193 Shropshire on a Friday evening in February 1973. On arrival at Hampton Loade 193 was suffering from water problems and was unable to carry out shunting operations, so 4141 was left in the up loop overnight. The only motive power available the following morning was the diminutive Hudswell Clarke Diesel Shunter D577 Mary. The siding was duly split near the platform end and slewed over to join a separate length of track on which 4141 was to be restored. Four wagons were marshalled between "Mary" and 4141 to ensure that the diesel did not travel on the new lightly laid track. "Mary" managed to push the convoy part-way up the incline before, for reasons then unknown, 4141 came to a halt and refused to move another inch. The following Sunday morning the larger Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 319290 arrived from Bridgnorth for another attempt. The problem was diagnosed as sticking brakes on 4141, soon remedied by the application of a sledge hammer, and the move of 4141 was completed. The siding was slewed back into position leaving 4141 on its isolated section of track.[4]

Later that year GWR 3467 Fruit D Van was acquired for the storage of spares for 4141.[5] Restoration by a small team of volunteers began and by 1976 work had been carried out on the main frame while the front pony wheel assembly had been removed, cleaned and painted. Wasted areas in the bunker had also been removed as had the chimney top for the fitting of a copper cap, and the B.R. number plate brackets from the smokebox door. Strip down work had also begun on the boiler.[4]

By 1980 the wheel tyres and axle journals had been turned at Bridgnorth and the axle boxes re-metalled.[1] The bottom end overhaul had been completed by 1985.[6] However progress was slow and had effectively stalled by 1988. In that year the committee of the '4141 Hampton Loade Locomotive Fund' announced that 4141 had been sold to Professor JF Kennedy and that it was now their responsibility to return all monies to the respective shareholders.[7] By 1990 the locomotive had left the SVR and was at Swindon.[8]

Restoration was eventually completed in 1998 when the locomotive was steamed on the Llangollen Railway. It moved to the Great Central Railway in 2003 where it operated until it was taken out of service around 2009 for boiler repairs. During that time it returned to the SVR in 2007 for an appearance at the Spring Steam Gala.

In October 2012 the locomotive moved to its latest home, the Epping Ongar Railway. In 2017 it was sent to Loughborough for overhaul.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 SVR Stock Book Seventh Edition
  2. BRDatabase
  3. SVR News 25,27
  4. 4.0 4.1 SVR News 41
  5. SVR News 30
  6. SVR News 156
  7. SVR News 87
  8. SVR Stock Book Eighth Edition

Links

SVR Wiki

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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
Trimpley Reservoir can be seen to the west of the line between Bewdley and Arley. The reservoir, which is managed by Severn Trent Water, was opened in 1968 and covers 29 acres. It is open to the public and is used by the Trimpley Sailing Club, while other activities include angling, wildlife watching and walking. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks.png
Click on the map for a
larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

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