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[[Category:Operational steam locomotives]]
[[Category:Locomotives at Bridgnorth]]
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|rating = GWR: C, BR: 4F
|axleload = GWR: Red
|status = In useStored
|locono = BR 1501
|othernos =
|weight = 58t 4cwt
|power = 22,515 lb
|pressure = 200 lb/sq in}}'''GWR Pannier 1501''' is the only surviving example of a GWR 1500 class 0-6-0PT shunting engine. Designed by GWR CME Frederick Hawksworth, 1501 was ordered under GWR Lot 373 but completed by the Western Region of British Railways at Swindon in 1949, two years after nationalisation.<ref name = StockBook>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> The class, of which only 10 were built, used the 'Standard 10' GWR boiler. Unlike the SVR’s other panniers, 1501 has outside cylinders. The cabside of WR steam locomotives bore a letter on a coloured disc: the letter showed the power classification and the coloured disc showed the [[GWR Power and Weight Classification|weight restriction]]. The 1500 Class was Red (up to 20 tons axle load) and power classification C. The class was rated as a 4F by British Railways. The classare mostly associated with London’s Old Oak Common, where duties included hauling long rakes of empty coaching stock in and out of which only 10 were built, used the 'Standard 10' GWR boilerPaddington Station. Unlike the SVR’s other panniersSome saw service in South Wales, 1501 has outside cylindersSouthall and Didcot.
==1501 in service==
===British Railways===
1501 entered service on 31 July 1949<ref name = "BRD">BRDatabase.info</ref> at London’s Old Oak Common, where duties included hauling long rakes of empty coaching stock in and out of Paddington Station. On 30 November 1950<ref name = "BRD" /> the locomotive was reallocated to Southall for local shunting duties.
The BR modernisation programme led to a swift replacement of the 1500 class by 350hp diesel shunters, and 1501 was withdrawn from service at Southall by BR in January 1961<ref name = "BRD" /> after a working life of just 11 years 5 months. Following withdrawal, 1501 was moved to Swindon. Two other class members, '''1502''' and '''1509''', were also moved to Swindon after withdrawal from Didcot and Newport respectively, and in February 1961 all three were sold to the National Coal Board<ref name = StockBook/>.
During 2009, plans for an overhaul of [[BR Riddles 4MT 75069 | 75069]] were delayed after a review of the boiler revealed that significant work would be required.<ref>SVR News 168</ref> 1501 was seen as a potential quick turnaround,<ref>SVR News 169</ref> and the locomotive left the Engine House in October 2009<ref>Wikipedia</ref> to begin an overhaul. 1501 was steamed again on 15 August 2012, re-entering service in BR lined black livery which, although not normally appropriate for shunting engines, was carried by 1503 and 1505 while at Old Oak Common.<ref>SVR News 179</ref>
A Valve and Piston overhaul in 2020 was completed in August 2020, only for a severe crack to be discovered in the right hand return crank. Fortunately, a replacement return crank was in store from its long scrapped sisters at Coventry Colliery.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep20 Branch Lines newsletter, September 2020] (Retrieved 29 August 2020)</ref>The locomotive's last day in traffic before the expiry of its boiler certificate was 2 January 2023.
In service on the SVR, 1501 has proved a powerful locomotive for its size, acquiring the nickname “the raging bull”. At the end of 2019, 1501 had recorded a total of 98,933 miles in preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on hire to other railways.<ref>SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard</ref> The locomotive is owned by the [[1501 Pannier Tank Association]].
==Trivia==
As noted above, 1501 is a member of the GWR 1500 class, also referred to as the 15xx Class. 108 0-6-0T 0ST tank engines of the 645 Class were built at the GWR’s Wolverhampton works between 1872 and 1881. The last 72 of these featured a revised design; the first of which was numbered 1501. This modified sub-class is therefore sometimes referred to as the “1501 Class”.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_645_Class 645 Class on Wikipedia]</ref>.
==See also==
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