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Difference between revisions of "GWR Small Prairie 4566"

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{{Infobox GWR steam loco
 +
|image      = 4566_20140316.jpg
 +
|caption    = 4566 at Bridgnorth in 2014
 +
|construc  = GWR Swindon Works
 +
|wheels    = 2-6-2T
 +
|rating    = GWR: C, BR: 4MT
 +
|axleload  = GWR: Yellow
 +
|status    = Static display
 +
|locono    = 4566
 +
|designed  = George Jackson Churchward
 +
|locotype  = '''GWR 4500'''
 +
|built      = 1924
 +
|years1    = 1970
 +
|events1    = Arrived on SVR
 +
|years2    = 1975
 +
|events2    = First steamed in preservation
 +
|years3    = 1986
 +
|events3    = Re-entered service
 +
|years4    = 2006
 +
|events4    = Re-entered service
 +
|years5    = 2017
 +
|events5    = Retired from Service
 +
|length    = 63ft 2¼"
 +
|weight    = 57t
 +
|power      = 21,250 lb
 +
|pressure  = 200 lb/sq in}}
 +
 +
'''4566''' is a '''GWR Churchward 4500 class 2-6-2T '[[Whyte notation|Small Prairie]]'''', one of a class of 175 small mixed traffic locomotives mainly used on branch lines.  A further 100 Collett 4575 Class small prairies were also produced with larger side tanks giving increased water capacity. They used the 'Standard 5' GWR boiler and were rated Yellow C under the [[GWR Power and Weight Classification | GWR system of power and weight classification]] and 4MT under the British Railways system.
 +
 +
Small prairies were a common sight on the Severn Valley Branch from the 1920s; the last use there being in 1961.<ref name = "SB9">SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> However, classmate 4555 and 1420 visited the branch with an SLS railtour as far as [[Alveley Sidings]] on 19 September 1965. Three members of the 4500 class and a further 11 of the 4575 class survive in preservation.
 +
 +
4566 was capable of pulling 8 coaches up Highley Bank from a standing start, but was generally restricted to 6 coaches or 200 tons due to its limited water capacity.<ref>SVR News 184</ref> This resulted in its use in peak summer season usually being on services with shorter coaching sets such as dining trains, and also in periods spent on hire to other railways.
 +
 
==4566 in service==
 
==4566 in service==
−
4566 is a GWR Churchward 4500 '[[Whyte notation | Small Prairie]]', a class of small mixed traffic locomotives mainly used on branch lines. The class was rated 4MT by British Railways.
+
4566 was built in Swindon in 1924 to Lot No. 226 and spent most of its working life based at sheds in Devon and Cornwall.<ref>[http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2015/happy-birthday-dear-4566/ 'Happy birthday dear 4566', rail.co.uk, 19 June 2015] (Retrieved 3 January 2019)</ref> It entered service in October 1924 at Newton Abbot,<ref>[https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=4566&loco=4566 BR Database]</ref>from where it worked regularly on the Mortonhampstead and Kingswear branches.<ref group="note">The Kingswear branch is now preserved as the Dartmouth Steam Railway.</ref> In July 1927 it moved to Taunton from where it worked on the Minehead branch.<ref name=Warren>[[Bibliography#Other References|Warren (1988)]] p. 77.</ref><ref group="note">The Minehead branch is now preserved as the West Somerset Railway.</ref>
  
−
4566 was built in Swindon in 1924 and entered service at Newton Abbott. Post-War, the locomotive worked in the far Southwest, including allocations to St. Ives and Penzance sheds, before being withdrawn from service at Plymouth Laira shed by BR in April 1962.<ref>[http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/262_4500det.htm The Great Western Archive] retrieved 27 January 2015.</ref>
+
During the early 1930s it was based at Swindon and Westbury, before moving to Bristol Bath Road in November 1935. From there it worked services to Cheddar and Wells, to Frome via Radstock, and on the Clevedon branch from Yatton.<ref name=Warren/>
 +
 
 +
4566 was reallocated to Swindon in February 1938, mainly working out of the sub-sheds at Andover Junction and Chippenham (for the Calne branch). In the later years of the War, it was again based at Bristol.<ref name=Warren/>
 +
 
 +
Post-War, the locomotive worked in the far south west, moving to Penzance in November 1946, from where it was a common sight working crowded holiday trains on the St. Erth to St. Ives branch and passenger services on the Gwinear Road to Helston branch, as well as freight traffic to Hayle Harbour.<ref name=Warren/>
 +
 
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
St Ives station panorama geograph-3987952-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|4566 with a local service at St Ives, 23 April 1960.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
4566 was notable for being the last steam locomotive overhauled at Newton Abbot works, completed on 15 July 1960 and being ceremonially driven out of the works by the chairman of the local urban district council (a mainline diesel driver).<ref name=SVR15>SVR News 15</ref> Two weeks later on 28 July 1960, 4566 was photographed entering Gwinear Road with a 2-coach Helston branch train.<ref>Photo reproduced in SVR News 46</ref>
 +
 
 +
Services in the far south west area were dieselised in September 1961 and 4566 was transferred to Plymouth Laira depot,<ref name=Warren/> probably intended for storage as it saw little work until being officially withdrawn from BR service there in April 1962 having achieved 967,914 miles in service. It was stored for a further few months before being sold for scrap and arriving at [[Barry Scrapyard | Barry]] in August of that year.<ref name = "BarryStory">The Barry Story, Beckett & Hardingham (2010)</ref><ref name = "SB9"/><ref>[http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/262_4500det.htm The Great Western Archive] (Retrieved 27 January 2015)</ref>
 +
 
 +
An original 4566 cabside numberplate resides in Helston Museum of Cornish Life [https://museumofcornishlife.co.uk/ link].
  
 
==4566 in preservation==
 
==4566 in preservation==
−
4566 arrived at the SVR from Barry on 25 August 1970.  Following restoration, the locomotive first entered service in 1975.
+
===Restoration and first boiler ticket===
 +
4566 was selected by two S.V.R. members, David Rouse and Bob Sim, as the most suitable small prairie for preservation out of several examples of the type at Barry, appearing in generally good order apart from missing footplate fittings.<ref name=SVR15/> It was only the 8th locomotive to leave Barry<ref group="note">4566 was the first GWR tank engine to leave Barry. It was preceded by five tender engines (3 GWR, one LMS and one SR) and two LMS 'Jinties'.</ref> and the first from there destined for the SVR.<ref name = "BarryStory" />
 +
 
 +
4566 left Barry tagged on the back of a 'Warship' hauled banana train. It arrived at [[Bewdley]] by rail, diesel hauled, on 25 August 1970, with restoration beginning there shortly afterwards.<ref>SVR News 18</ref> By the end of 1972 the boiler had been re-tubed and passed a hydraulic test. The complete bunker unit had been sent away to a railway engineering factory and returned with new platework. The side tanks were found to be thin in places and patching was carried out.<ref>SVR News 26</ref> By the end of 1974 new boiler cladding plates had been cut and rolled at [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]], using the existing badly rusted ones as patterns. The tanks and cab roof were refitted, and new ashpan built and fitted. Two new spectacle windows were remade and fitted in the front of the cab to replace those originally installed when built but later blanked out by BR.<ref>SVR News 34</ref>
 +
 
 +
The restoration was completed in time for the locomotive to enter service on 5 July 1975, the inaugural trip from Bewdley to Bridgnorth being an evening special train double headed with [[46521]] to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the SVR.<ref>SVR News 36</ref> The locomotive initially proved very reliable, recording 3,310 miles in just 5 months including 1,410 miles in 22 days during August.<ref>SVR News 38</ref> Over the following winter the locomotive was fitted with steam heating.<ref>SVR News 39</ref>
 +
 
 +
The following year 4566 was used in filming of Walt Disney's live action film [[Candleshoe]],<ref>SVR News 42</ref> with the locomotive also appearing in the 1977 TV movie [[Silver Blaze]].  In summer 1977 the SVR celebrated the Royal Silver Jubilee week by running two named trains, 'The Silver Jubilee' with 4566 and the GWR set, and 'The Elizabethan' with various LMS locomotives and the LMS set.<ref>SVR News 45</ref> That year the locomotive recorded 4,410 miles, the highest mileage of those used.<ref>SVR News 46</ref>
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
Candleshoe_screenshot_Victoria_Bridge.jpg | 4566 crosses Victoria Bridge in a scene from 'Candleshoe'
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
During 1979 4566 was repainted from BR livery into GWR livery and temporarily numbered 4506 for filming the Edwardian era episodes of [[God's Wonderful Railway]].<ref>SVR News 52</ref> By late 1979 4566 had suffered a crack in the drag box and was also suffering from leaking boiler tubes,<ref>SVR News 53-54</ref>, leading to the locomotive being withdrawn for overhaul mid-way into its first 'ten year ticket'.
 +
 
 +
===Overhaul and second boiler ticket=== 
 +
The next 4 years were spent in storage. Having reached the front of the overhaul queue, work began in early 1984.<ref>SVR News 72</ref>  The cylinders were re-bored and new pistons manufactured. A new buffer beam was manufactured and fitted;<ref>SVR News 74</ref> as were a new bunker, new side tanks and new slide bars.<ref>SVR News 79</ref> The overhaul was eventually completed with a return to steam in June 1986.<ref>SVR News 81</ref> The locomotive received a quick repaint into BR lined green livery, as last out-shopped from Newton Abbot works, in time for the final week of the 1986 season.<ref>SVR News 82</ref>
 +
 
 +
On 26 March 1987 4566 towed [[3205]], the SVR’s first locomotive in preservation, from Bridgnorth to [[Kidderminster]] to be transferred to a low loader when 3205 left the railway. The following month 4566 failed on Easter Sunday with a blow in the firebox. Two boilersmiths spent a morning inside the firebox where a lot of hammering achieved a successful repair.<ref>SVR News 85</ref>
  
−
4566’s most recent overhaul was completed in late 2006.  The locomotive is therefore expected to be withdrawn from service during 2016 at the end of the boiler’s ’10-year ticket’.
+
In 1987, 4566 appeared in the BBC TV movie [[Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington]]. It made another made another TV appearance in [[Hannay]], in an unlikely combination with four LNER coaches.<ref>SVR News 86</ref> From 30 April to 2 May 1988 it [[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events#Steam_locomotives_timeline_1980-1989|appeared at Port Sunlight]] for a Vintage Rail and Public Transport weekend celebrating 100 years of soap making at Levers. Top and tailing with LMS 'Jinty' No. 7298 it operated Wirral Transport Users Association 'Port Sunlight Centenary Trains' between Port Sunlight (where a temporary platform was built), Lubrizol Junction and Bromborough Margarine Works (Stork margarine works).<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/happyraildays/8287402032/ Flikr]</ref><ref>[https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/880501ps.htm 'Wirral Transport Users Association Port Sunlight Centenary Trains', Six Bells Junction]</ref> Summer 1988 was spent on hire to the Gwili Railway, where the locomotive was steamed between 30 June and 30 August covering over 1,000 miles.<ref>SVR News 94</ref>
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
Miss_Marple_Screenshot_11_4566.jpg | 4566 arrives at 'Brackhampton' (Bewdley) in a scene from '4:50 from Paddington'
 +
</gallery>
  
−
4566 is owned by the [[4566 Group]].
+
Two years later, Sunday 13 May 1990 saw the then-normal summertime Table C timetable in use, requiring 5 steam locomotives. The SVR achieved a rare ‘full house’ by rostering GWR 4566 along with [[SR 34027 Taw Valley]], [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|LMS 46443]], LNER 3442 The Great Marquess and [[BR Riddles 4MT 75069|BR Standard 75069]].<ref>SVR News 97</ref>
 +
 
 +
Over winter 1990-91, 4566 received a quick topcoat repaint and re-varnish in anticipation of a period on hire to the Kent and East Sussex Railway.<ref>SVR News 98</ref> In the event this did not take place; however [[46443]] failed with a burst tube while on hire to the Llangollen Railway and 4566 took its place for the rest of summer 1991.<ref>SVR News 101, 102</ref> This swap was evidently successfully as a repeat visit by 4566 took place the following year.<ref>SVR News 102</ref>
 +
 
 +
Early 1993 was spent receiving a re-tube and a new chimney for which a pattern was created,<ref>SVR News 107</ref> with the locomotive returning to service in August. In Spring 1994 4566 spent a second summer on hire to the Gwili Railway.<ref>SVR News 110,112</ref>
 +
 
 +
The last full year of this ticket, 1995, began with a photography special day on 2 April organised by the owning 4566 Group. The locomotive then spent April to October on hire to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.<ref>SVR News 114,115</ref>  It was hoped that the 'ticket' could be extended until May 1996 to enable a final appearance at the April Spring Gala, but 4566 was withdrawn for overhaul having been declared a failure just before the event<ref>SVR News 118-119</ref>.
 +
 
 +
===Overhaul and third boiler ticket===
 +
4566 was then stored at Bewdley awaiting overhaul. In 1998 an [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|SVRA Wolverhampton Branch raffle]] helped raise money towards the cost of new driving wheel tyres which would be required.<ref>SVR News 128,129</ref> Over the next eight years some preliminary work was carried out there by the 4566 Group.<ref>SVR News 139</ref> In July 2004 4566's new tyres arrived<ref>SVR News 149</ref> and shortly afterwards the locomotive was moved to Bridgnorth for the overhaul proper to begin. Within weeks 4566 had been dismantled and the boiler moved to the boiler shop.<ref>SVR News 148</ref>   
 +
 
 +
As part of the overhaul the 4566 Group reinstated the original Churchward style tapered buffers. These were cast using new patterns made by Gordon Woodruff at Bridgnorth. The locomotive had been re-wheeled by December 2005 and the overhaul was completed in late 2006; a test run from Bridgnorth to Bewdley taking place on 29 November.<ref>SVR News 156</ref> Pictures of the overhaul can be seen on [http://www.gw-svr-a.org.uk/4566_overhaul.html GW(SVR)A website 4566 Overhaul page]. The locomotive re-entered service in early 2007 in GWR green ‘Great Western’ livery, operating a charter special for photographers on Monday 5 March 2007.<ref>SVR News 157</ref>
 +
 
 +
In May 2007, 4566 was used on a steam-hauled revenue earning freight charter, taking a load of pipes to [[Trimpley Reservoirs & Waterworks|Trimpley Reservoir]] for Severn Trent Water. Following the lengthy closure of the railway for repairs to the [[2007 Storm Damage]], partial reopening of services between Bridgnorth and [[Hampton Loade]] was achieved on Saturday 9 February 2008, with 4566 working the first of five return trips.<ref>SVR News 160</ref>
 +
 
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
4566_20100522.jpg| 4566 at Highley in May 2010
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
At the end of 2011 4566 was described as "''running OK but showing signs of the increasing mileage and time since last repair''".<ref>SVR News 176</ref> On examination, the left hand driving horn blocks were found to be loose due to cracks in the frame. These had to be ground out and welded up before the blocks could be refitted and the locomotive returned to traffic.<ref>SVR News 177</ref> During the Victorian Weekend event on 19-20 May 2012 which celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the SVR,<ref group="note">On 1 February 2012, the actual anniversary, the line was closed for repairs to [[Bewdley Tunnel]]</ref> 4566 hauled the Royal Train carrying ‘Queen Victoria’ from Bewdley to Bridgnorth.<ref>SVR News 177,178</ref> 
 +
 
 +
In early 2014 4566 was repainted in BR black livery with the early 'cycling lion' crest.<ref>SVR News 185</ref> November 2016 marked 4566’s last gala appearance at the November 'Season Finale'.  On 2 January 2017 4566 retired from service at the end of the boiler's '10-year ticket'. 
 +
 
 +
On 20 June 2018 4566 was moved from storage in [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed]] to be put on display in [[The Engine House]] at Highley.
 +
 
 +
At the end of 2019, 4566 had recorded a total of 112,000 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>
 +
 
 +
For many years the locomotive's owners, the [[4566 Group]], did not have a website or presence on social media. In 2022 a group of supporters, many of whom are also associated with the [[Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall]], formed '''The 4566 Preservation Group''' "dedicated to the care and restoration of the locomotive", to raise funds for its overhaul. A launch at the 2023 [[Spring Steam Gala]] with a [[List of shops|sales stand]] at [[Kidderminster]], "Our first gala stand for many years", raised £500. On 23 May 2023 it became a Charitable incorporated organisation, charity number 1203207, Company number CE032373, with 8 trustees. It has also set up a Facebook page and website.  
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
−
[[Steam Locomotives]]
+
*[[Steam Locomotives]]
 +
*[[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events]]
 +
*[[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service|Classes of locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service]]
 +
 
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references group="note"/>
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
==Links==
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_4500_Class GWR 4500 Class on Wikipedia]
 +
*[http://www.4566.org.uk The 4566 Preservation Group website]
 +
*[https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088192667485 The 4566 Preservation Group Facebook page]
 +
 
 +
{{SteamNavbox}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:SVR fundraising lotteries]]
 +
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Latest revision as of 18:58, 2 April 2024

GWR Small Prairie 4566
4566 20140316.jpg
4566 at Bridgnorth in 2014
Built By GWR Swindon Works
Configuration 2-6-2T
Power class GWR: C, BR: 4MT
Axle load class GWR: Yellow
Status Static display
Loco Number 4566
History
Built 1924
Designed By George Jackson Churchward
Type GWR 4500
1970 Arrived on SVR
1975 First steamed in preservation
1986 Re-entered service
2006 Re-entered service
2017 Retired from Service
Technical
Length 63ft 2¼"
Weight 57t
Tractive effort 21,250 lb
Pressure 200 lb/sq in

Steam Locomotives

4566 is a GWR Churchward 4500 class 2-6-2T 'Small Prairie', one of a class of 175 small mixed traffic locomotives mainly used on branch lines. A further 100 Collett 4575 Class small prairies were also produced with larger side tanks giving increased water capacity. They used the 'Standard 5' GWR boiler and were rated Yellow C under the GWR system of power and weight classification and 4MT under the British Railways system.

Small prairies were a common sight on the Severn Valley Branch from the 1920s; the last use there being in 1961.[1] However, classmate 4555 and 1420 visited the branch with an SLS railtour as far as Alveley Sidings on 19 September 1965. Three members of the 4500 class and a further 11 of the 4575 class survive in preservation.

4566 was capable of pulling 8 coaches up Highley Bank from a standing start, but was generally restricted to 6 coaches or 200 tons due to its limited water capacity.[2] This resulted in its use in peak summer season usually being on services with shorter coaching sets such as dining trains, and also in periods spent on hire to other railways.

Contents

4566 in service

4566 was built in Swindon in 1924 to Lot No. 226 and spent most of its working life based at sheds in Devon and Cornwall.[3] It entered service in October 1924 at Newton Abbot,[4]from where it worked regularly on the Mortonhampstead and Kingswear branches.[note 1] In July 1927 it moved to Taunton from where it worked on the Minehead branch.[5][note 2]

During the early 1930s it was based at Swindon and Westbury, before moving to Bristol Bath Road in November 1935. From there it worked services to Cheddar and Wells, to Frome via Radstock, and on the Clevedon branch from Yatton.[5]

4566 was reallocated to Swindon in February 1938, mainly working out of the sub-sheds at Andover Junction and Chippenham (for the Calne branch). In the later years of the War, it was again based at Bristol.[5]

Post-War, the locomotive worked in the far south west, moving to Penzance in November 1946, from where it was a common sight working crowded holiday trains on the St. Erth to St. Ives branch and passenger services on the Gwinear Road to Helston branch, as well as freight traffic to Hayle Harbour.[5]

  • 4566 with a local service at St Ives, 23 April 1960.

4566 was notable for being the last steam locomotive overhauled at Newton Abbot works, completed on 15 July 1960 and being ceremonially driven out of the works by the chairman of the local urban district council (a mainline diesel driver).[6] Two weeks later on 28 July 1960, 4566 was photographed entering Gwinear Road with a 2-coach Helston branch train.[7]

Services in the far south west area were dieselised in September 1961 and 4566 was transferred to Plymouth Laira depot,[5] probably intended for storage as it saw little work until being officially withdrawn from BR service there in April 1962 having achieved 967,914 miles in service. It was stored for a further few months before being sold for scrap and arriving at Barry in August of that year.[8][1][9]

An original 4566 cabside numberplate resides in Helston Museum of Cornish Life link.

4566 in preservation

Restoration and first boiler ticket

4566 was selected by two S.V.R. members, David Rouse and Bob Sim, as the most suitable small prairie for preservation out of several examples of the type at Barry, appearing in generally good order apart from missing footplate fittings.[6] It was only the 8th locomotive to leave Barry[note 3] and the first from there destined for the SVR.[8]

4566 left Barry tagged on the back of a 'Warship' hauled banana train. It arrived at Bewdley by rail, diesel hauled, on 25 August 1970, with restoration beginning there shortly afterwards.[10] By the end of 1972 the boiler had been re-tubed and passed a hydraulic test. The complete bunker unit had been sent away to a railway engineering factory and returned with new platework. The side tanks were found to be thin in places and patching was carried out.[11] By the end of 1974 new boiler cladding plates had been cut and rolled at Bridgnorth Loco Works, using the existing badly rusted ones as patterns. The tanks and cab roof were refitted, and new ashpan built and fitted. Two new spectacle windows were remade and fitted in the front of the cab to replace those originally installed when built but later blanked out by BR.[12]

The restoration was completed in time for the locomotive to enter service on 5 July 1975, the inaugural trip from Bewdley to Bridgnorth being an evening special train double headed with 46521 to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the SVR.[13] The locomotive initially proved very reliable, recording 3,310 miles in just 5 months including 1,410 miles in 22 days during August.[14] Over the following winter the locomotive was fitted with steam heating.[15]

The following year 4566 was used in filming of Walt Disney's live action film Candleshoe,[16] with the locomotive also appearing in the 1977 TV movie Silver Blaze. In summer 1977 the SVR celebrated the Royal Silver Jubilee week by running two named trains, 'The Silver Jubilee' with 4566 and the GWR set, and 'The Elizabethan' with various LMS locomotives and the LMS set.[17] That year the locomotive recorded 4,410 miles, the highest mileage of those used.[18]

  • 4566 crosses Victoria Bridge in a scene from 'Candleshoe'

During 1979 4566 was repainted from BR livery into GWR livery and temporarily numbered 4506 for filming the Edwardian era episodes of God's Wonderful Railway.[19] By late 1979 4566 had suffered a crack in the drag box and was also suffering from leaking boiler tubes,[20], leading to the locomotive being withdrawn for overhaul mid-way into its first 'ten year ticket'.

Overhaul and second boiler ticket

The next 4 years were spent in storage. Having reached the front of the overhaul queue, work began in early 1984.[21] The cylinders were re-bored and new pistons manufactured. A new buffer beam was manufactured and fitted;[22] as were a new bunker, new side tanks and new slide bars.[23] The overhaul was eventually completed with a return to steam in June 1986.[24] The locomotive received a quick repaint into BR lined green livery, as last out-shopped from Newton Abbot works, in time for the final week of the 1986 season.[25]

On 26 March 1987 4566 towed 3205, the SVR’s first locomotive in preservation, from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster to be transferred to a low loader when 3205 left the railway. The following month 4566 failed on Easter Sunday with a blow in the firebox. Two boilersmiths spent a morning inside the firebox where a lot of hammering achieved a successful repair.[26]

In 1987, 4566 appeared in the BBC TV movie Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington. It made another made another TV appearance in Hannay, in an unlikely combination with four LNER coaches.[27] From 30 April to 2 May 1988 it appeared at Port Sunlight for a Vintage Rail and Public Transport weekend celebrating 100 years of soap making at Levers. Top and tailing with LMS 'Jinty' No. 7298 it operated Wirral Transport Users Association 'Port Sunlight Centenary Trains' between Port Sunlight (where a temporary platform was built), Lubrizol Junction and Bromborough Margarine Works (Stork margarine works).[28][29] Summer 1988 was spent on hire to the Gwili Railway, where the locomotive was steamed between 30 June and 30 August covering over 1,000 miles.[30]

  • 4566 arrives at 'Brackhampton' (Bewdley) in a scene from '4:50 from Paddington'

Two years later, Sunday 13 May 1990 saw the then-normal summertime Table C timetable in use, requiring 5 steam locomotives. The SVR achieved a rare ‘full house’ by rostering GWR 4566 along with SR 34027 Taw Valley, LMS 46443, LNER 3442 The Great Marquess and BR Standard 75069.[31]

Over winter 1990-91, 4566 received a quick topcoat repaint and re-varnish in anticipation of a period on hire to the Kent and East Sussex Railway.[32] In the event this did not take place; however 46443 failed with a burst tube while on hire to the Llangollen Railway and 4566 took its place for the rest of summer 1991.[33] This swap was evidently successfully as a repeat visit by 4566 took place the following year.[34]

Early 1993 was spent receiving a re-tube and a new chimney for which a pattern was created,[35] with the locomotive returning to service in August. In Spring 1994 4566 spent a second summer on hire to the Gwili Railway.[36]

The last full year of this ticket, 1995, began with a photography special day on 2 April organised by the owning 4566 Group. The locomotive then spent April to October on hire to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.[37] It was hoped that the 'ticket' could be extended until May 1996 to enable a final appearance at the April Spring Gala, but 4566 was withdrawn for overhaul having been declared a failure just before the event[38].

Overhaul and third boiler ticket

4566 was then stored at Bewdley awaiting overhaul. In 1998 an SVRA Wolverhampton Branch raffle helped raise money towards the cost of new driving wheel tyres which would be required.[39] Over the next eight years some preliminary work was carried out there by the 4566 Group.[40] In July 2004 4566's new tyres arrived[41] and shortly afterwards the locomotive was moved to Bridgnorth for the overhaul proper to begin. Within weeks 4566 had been dismantled and the boiler moved to the boiler shop.[42]

As part of the overhaul the 4566 Group reinstated the original Churchward style tapered buffers. These were cast using new patterns made by Gordon Woodruff at Bridgnorth. The locomotive had been re-wheeled by December 2005 and the overhaul was completed in late 2006; a test run from Bridgnorth to Bewdley taking place on 29 November.[43] Pictures of the overhaul can be seen on GW(SVR)A website 4566 Overhaul page. The locomotive re-entered service in early 2007 in GWR green ‘Great Western’ livery, operating a charter special for photographers on Monday 5 March 2007.[44]

In May 2007, 4566 was used on a steam-hauled revenue earning freight charter, taking a load of pipes to Trimpley Reservoir for Severn Trent Water. Following the lengthy closure of the railway for repairs to the 2007 Storm Damage, partial reopening of services between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was achieved on Saturday 9 February 2008, with 4566 working the first of five return trips.[45]

  • 4566 at Highley in May 2010

At the end of 2011 4566 was described as "running OK but showing signs of the increasing mileage and time since last repair".[46] On examination, the left hand driving horn blocks were found to be loose due to cracks in the frame. These had to be ground out and welded up before the blocks could be refitted and the locomotive returned to traffic.[47] During the Victorian Weekend event on 19-20 May 2012 which celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the SVR,[note 4] 4566 hauled the Royal Train carrying ‘Queen Victoria’ from Bewdley to Bridgnorth.[48]

In early 2014 4566 was repainted in BR black livery with the early 'cycling lion' crest.[49] November 2016 marked 4566’s last gala appearance at the November 'Season Finale'. On 2 January 2017 4566 retired from service at the end of the boiler's '10-year ticket'.

On 20 June 2018 4566 was moved from storage in Kidderminster Carriage Shed to be put on display in The Engine House at Highley.

At the end of 2019, 4566 had recorded a total of 112,000 miles in preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on hire to other railways.[50]

For many years the locomotive's owners, the 4566 Group, did not have a website or presence on social media. In 2022 a group of supporters, many of whom are also associated with the Friends of 4930 Hagley Hall, formed The 4566 Preservation Group "dedicated to the care and restoration of the locomotive", to raise funds for its overhaul. A launch at the 2023 Spring Steam Gala with a sales stand at Kidderminster, "Our first gala stand for many years", raised £500. On 23 May 2023 it became a Charitable incorporated organisation, charity number 1203207, Company number CE032373, with 8 trustees. It has also set up a Facebook page and website.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Kingswear branch is now preserved as the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
  2. ↑ The Minehead branch is now preserved as the West Somerset Railway.
  3. ↑ 4566 was the first GWR tank engine to leave Barry. It was preceded by five tender engines (3 GWR, one LMS and one SR) and two LMS 'Jinties'.
  4. ↑ On 1 February 2012, the actual anniversary, the line was closed for repairs to Bewdley Tunnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 SVR Stock Book 9th Edition
  2. ↑ SVR News 184
  3. ↑ 'Happy birthday dear 4566', rail.co.uk, 19 June 2015 (Retrieved 3 January 2019)
  4. ↑ BR Database
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Warren (1988) p. 77.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 SVR News 15
  7. ↑ Photo reproduced in SVR News 46
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Barry Story, Beckett & Hardingham (2010)
  9. ↑ The Great Western Archive (Retrieved 27 January 2015)
  10. ↑ SVR News 18
  11. ↑ SVR News 26
  12. ↑ SVR News 34
  13. ↑ SVR News 36
  14. ↑ SVR News 38
  15. ↑ SVR News 39
  16. ↑ SVR News 42
  17. ↑ SVR News 45
  18. ↑ SVR News 46
  19. ↑ SVR News 52
  20. ↑ SVR News 53-54
  21. ↑ SVR News 72
  22. ↑ SVR News 74
  23. ↑ SVR News 79
  24. ↑ SVR News 81
  25. ↑ SVR News 82
  26. ↑ SVR News 85
  27. ↑ SVR News 86
  28. ↑ Flikr
  29. ↑ 'Wirral Transport Users Association Port Sunlight Centenary Trains', Six Bells Junction
  30. ↑ SVR News 94
  31. ↑ SVR News 97
  32. ↑ SVR News 98
  33. ↑ SVR News 101, 102
  34. ↑ SVR News 102
  35. ↑ SVR News 107
  36. ↑ SVR News 110,112
  37. ↑ SVR News 114,115
  38. ↑ SVR News 118-119
  39. ↑ SVR News 128,129
  40. ↑ SVR News 139
  41. ↑ SVR News 149
  42. ↑ SVR News 148
  43. ↑ SVR News 156
  44. ↑ SVR News 157
  45. ↑ SVR News 160
  46. ↑ SVR News 176
  47. ↑ SVR News 177
  48. ↑ SVR News 177,178
  49. ↑ SVR News 185
  50. ↑ SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard

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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
E1682 is a BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Buffet Restaurant carriage. It was acquired by the SVRSevern Valley Railway (BRBritish Rail or British Railways) Buffet Car Fund in 1981 and used for many years on the Severn Valley Venturer dining service. (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 SVRMapandlinks3.png
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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.

Categories of article

History of the Severn Valley Railway

Current events on the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Information about the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Miscellaneous


Query Corner

Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

In addition are a number of stub articles requiring further input.

Adding to this Wiki

This site, or "wiki", is a collaborative effort, and anyone who has any knowledge relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway should feel free to contribute. Once you have created a user account and logged in, you can modify any page by clicking the "Edit" button in the top right hand corner. For some tips on how to format pages, and some guidelines on how to make this wiki accessible can be found on Tips for contributing to the SVR Wiki.

Alternatively, if you don't feel confident editing this Wiki (although there is no reason you shouldn't!!), each article also has a "Discussion" page, which can be accessed by clicking the relevant button in the top left hand corner. This allows you to make additions, suggestions, or corrections to a page without making any change to the article itself.


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