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[[File:{{Infobox steam loco|image = Longmoor Military Railway Gordon Severn Valley Railway.jpg|caption = LMR 600 Gordon|thumbconstruc = North British Locomotive Co|200pxwheels = 2-10-0|rightstatus = Out of service|locono = LMR 600 |othernos = WD 73651|designed = Robert Riddles|locotype = '''WD Austerity 2-10-0'''|built = 1943|years1 = 1971|events1 = Arrived on SVR on loan|years2 = 1999|events2 = Last steamed on SVR|years3 = 2008|events3 = Presented to SVR(H)|length = 58ft 10&frac14;"|weight = 94t 9cwt|power = 34,215 lb|pressure = 225 lb/sq in}}'''Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 'Gordon on static display '''' is a World War II 'Austerity' 2-10-0 locomotive designed by R. A. Riddles. Despite superficial similarities of being blue and named Gordon, there is no ostensible link between the locomotive and the fictional anthropomorphic locomotive [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_the_Big_Engine 'Gordon the Big Engine'] in The Railway Series books by Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry.  The standard War Department [[Whyte notation | 2-8-0]] freight locomotive was essentially a simplified version of the [[48773|LMS 8F]]. A total of 935 were ordered with the first delivered in January 1943.<ref name=Rowledge16>[[Bibliography#Other References|Rowledge (1987)]] pp. 16-17.</ref> The Engine HouseWar Department then issued a requirement for a locomotive having the same tractive effort as the 2-8-0 but an axle loading not exceeding 13.5 tons, some 3 tons lighter than the 2-8-0. This would enable it to be used on secondary lines or overseas lines of poorer track quality. Riddles considered a producing a 2-8-2 version before adopting the 10-coupled design,<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Rowledge (1987)]]p. 9.</ref> which shared many similarities with the 2-8-0 version. To enable the locomotive to negotiate sharp curves, the 2-10-0 was fitted with flangeless centre driving wheels whilst the next pairs had reduced flanges (a feature continued in the BR Standard 9F).<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Flangeless_Wheel_20160213.jpg | A flangeless driving wheel (left)</gallery> Orders for 150 2-10-0s were placed, with deliveries starting in December 1943. The 2-8-0 and 2-10-0 locomotives were built by just two companies, the Vulcan Foundry and the North British Locomotive Company, with the latter company producing all of the 2-10-0s<ref name=Rowledge16/>.

Longmoor Military Railway No. 600 'Gordon' The locomotive was the second of the class, built in 1943 at the North British Locomotive Company’s Company's Hyde Park Works in Glasgow as works number 25437. The It entered service in December 1943 as War Department No. 3651. During 1944 it was renumbered 73651 following an instruction to increase the WD numbers by 70,000.<ref name=Rowledge16/> Although the majority of the 2-10-0 class were shipped overseas, 73651 only saw wartime service in Great Britain.  Post-War, the locomotive, which is was mainly confined to the [[:Category:Rolling stock associated with the Longmoor Military Railway|Longmoor Military Railway]] where it was used by the Royal Engineers as a driver-training engine and for other general duties. It was given the Army number 600 in 1956<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Rowledge (1987)]] p. 49.</ref> and was named after the Royal Engineers' famous General, Charles Gordon ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon|General Gordon of Khartoum]).<ref group="note">An earlier carrier of that name was [[Steam Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas#2000-2009|Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T No 85]], which visited the SVR in 2003.</ref> During the 'Suez crisis' in the same year, Gordon was reputed to have worked highly secret overnight trains carrying Government materials between Longmoor and Southampton Docks, is crewed by the Army and accompanied by a World War 2 ‘Austerity’ BR pilotman.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Rowledge (1987)]] p. 52.</ref> <gallery mode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">File:Gordon Longmoor 1949.jpg | Gordon in 1949 (Wikimedia Commons)</gallery> The LMR was home to a number of other steam locomotives, but by the 1960s Gordon was the last remaining in service. It made a brief appearance as an express passenger locomotive designed by Rin the Children's Film Foundation film "Runaway Railway", filmed at the LMR in 1965.<ref>[https://www.reelstreets. Acom/films/runaway-railway-childrens-film-foundation/ reelstreets. Riddlescom]</ref> It was a popular attraction at enthusiasts' events and on both 16 and 30 April 1966 worked RCTS excursions on BR metals from Woking to Liss and continuing later to Staines, and was the second first occasion being photographed by Tim Stephens of 150 such locomotives builtthe [[Master Neverers Association]].<ref>Never Again Volume 9, MNA Publications, p. 212.</ref><ref name= "RM1019">The Railway Magazine, October 2019. pp. 40-46</ref> It  Gordon's last major steam event was originally numbered WD 73651 for the War Departmentfinal open day at Longmoor camp on 5 July 1969. The line closed on 31 October 1969, Gordon working the final train from Oakhanger to Longmoor.<ref name="RM1019"/>

LMR had its own fitters school. 600 was retubed in Longmoor shed in 1963.<ref>[https://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/9/longmoor.htm Farmer, Keith, The standard War Department Industrial Railway Record, 1963]</ref> Steam locomotives also reached Eastleigh for repairs. ==LMR 600 Gordon in preservation==[[Whyte notation | File:Bridgnorth Ex-WD 2-810-0at Severn Valley Railway Depot geograph-2756011-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Gordon on the SVR in 1972 (Wikimedia Commons)]] freight locomotive was a simplified version of the LMS 8F. The [[Whyte notation | File:Locomotive Parade, Rainhill 1980 - War Department 2-10-0- geograph.org.uk - 1587503.jpg | thumb|300px|right|Gordon at Rainhill in 1980 (Wikimedia Commons)]] design was introduced to give  The Association of Railway Preservation Societies, through the Longmoor Trust, negotiated in 1970 a reduced axle loadinglease of part of the LMR, mainly intended including an indefinite loan of Gordon. Subsequent objections caused the planning application to fail.<ref name="RM1019"/> Gordon was still the property of the British Army when the Longmoor Military Railway closed and was subsequently sold for overseas use where track quality non-military purposes. Following this closure, the Army asked the Tranport Trust if it could be worse than provide a suitable home for the UKlocomotive. To enable <ref name= "SB9">SVR Stock Book 9th edition</ref> Gordon arrived on loan to the SVR on 20 September 1971 through the locomotive to negotiate sharp curves, courtesy of the 2-10-0’s centre driving wheels are flangeless whilst Army and the next pairs have reduced flanges (a feature continued in Transport Trust, accompanied by [[Carriages formerly resident on the BR Standard 9F)SVR | three vintage carriages]].<ref>SVR News 21</ref>

Although of After steam testing in January 1972, the 2locomotive entered service.<ref>SVR News 23</ref> In August [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-10-0 design intended 1979#1975 | 1975]] it travelled to Shildon under its own power to attend the [[Rail 150]] celebrations. Service continued with only a brief break for overseas use, ‘Gordon’ only saw wartime service in the UKboiler to be completely retubed during the summer of 1978. Post<ref>SVR News 48</ref> In [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1980-War, 1989#1980 | 1980]] Gordon was mainly confined travelled in light steam to the Longmoor Military Railway Bold Colliery from where, numbered 600, it was used as by participated in the locomotive parade at [[Rocket 150]] at Rainhill. Gordon is one of only two steam locomotives on the Royal Engineers as a driverSVR (along with [[SR 34027 Taw Valley|34027 Taw Valley]]) which are equipped to work with air-training enginebraked rolling stock. However This facility was occasionally used in 1957 during the Suez crisispreservation, it is known to have including in May 1982 when Gordon worked highly secretive trains an incoming train of 19 wagons delivering 1,800 concrete sleepers.<ref>SVR News 64</ref>.<gallery>File:LMR_600_20151122.jpg|Westinghouse air pump for working air-braked rolling stock</gallery>  Having seen action in every year between Longmoor 1972 and Southampton1984, Gordon’s boiler succumbed to broken stays and thin firebox plates and the locomotive was withdrawn from service at the end of that year, in the words of Chief Engineer [[Alun Rees]] "''much to the relief of many of the footplate crews''".<ref> SVR News 74</ref>

==LMR 600 After a period out of service, Gordon in preservation==re-entered service on 8 December 1990, the day being marked by a severe blizzard.<ref>SVR News 98</ref> On 4 September 1993, Gordon took over an incoming railtour with the VSOE Pullman train at Kidderminster, when Prince Michael of Kent travelled on the footplate. The locomotive was still also used for a series of specials with TV entertainer Roy Castle on Saturday 25 March 1995.<ref group="note">A caption in SVR News 114 Spring 1995 p.6. states "Saturday 25 March 1994". Given the property 1995 date of publication, and that 25 March was a Saturday in 1995 but a Friday in 1994, the British Army when running date is assumed to be 1995. Stock Book 9 also mentions 1994, possibly based on that caption.</ref> Service continued until 1998, although in the SVR News locomotive notes for spring 1999 Jan Chojnacki reported that "''I have it arrived on good authority that a sweepstake is being organised for the next failure''".<ref>SVR News 129</ref> The words proved prophetic, as shortly thereafter a fractured small tube causing significant damage in September 1971 the firebox.<ref>SVR News 130</ref>  Gordon has not seen service on loan from The Transport Trustthe SVR since 1999. It remained Army property until spent some years stored outdoors before being cosmetically restored as one of the original locomotives to go on display in [[The Engine House]] at Highley from opening in March 2008. On Friday 25 July 2008 when, by then the last steam locomotive owned by Gordon was formally handed over from the National Army, it was donated Museum to the SVRin a ceremony at the Engine House, where it remains on display. It <ref>SVR News 164</ref><ref>SVR given Gordon, Heritage Railway Magazine, Issue 115, 4 September – 1 October 2008</ref> Gordon is now owned by [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | SVR(H)]].  Due to its size and weight, Gordon is restricted to 5mph over Victoria Bridge.<ref>General Appendix to Working Timetables and Rules and Regulations, Section O6(a)</ref> Mileage recorded by Gordon as reported in SVR News was as follows:

Gordon saw regular use in the early days of the SVR. In August {| class="wikitable"|-! <b>Year</b> !! style="text-align:right;" | <b>Mileage</b> |-| 1972 || style="text-align:right;" | 315|-| 1973 || style="text-align:right;" | 670|-| 1974 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,405|-| 1975 it travelled to Shildon under its own power to attend the Rail 150 celebrations|| style="text-align:right;" | 1, and in 020|-| 1976 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,870|-| 1977 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,720|-| 1978 || style="text-align:right;" | 435|-| 1979 || style="text-align:right;" | 630|-| 1980 it travelled in light steam to Bold Colliery from where it participated in the locomotive parade at Rocket 150 at Rainhill.|| style="text-align:right;" | 1,710|-| 1981 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,060|-| 1982 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,745|-| 1983 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,266|-| 1984 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,206|-| 1990 || style="text-align:right;" | 829|-| 1991 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,835|-| 1992 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,870|-| 1993 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,340|-| 1994 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,031|-| 1995 || style="text-align:right;" | 5,262|-| 1996 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,832|-| 1997 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,104|-| 1998 || style="text-align:right;" | 3,889|-| 1999 || style="text-align:right;" | 62|-| <b>Total</b> || style="text-align:right;" | 43,106|}

It last saw service in 1999==Other Austerity 2-10-0s==The LMR was also home to WD 73797, renumbered 601 and is currently on display in named ''Kitchener''.<ref>[[The Engine HouseBibliography#Other References|Rowledge (1987)]]p. 52.</ref> That locomotive was not preserved, however two other Austerity 2-10-0s which served overseas were later repatriated to the UK for preservation:*WD 73652, now at the North Norfolk Railway<ref>[https://www.nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-items/wd-90775-the-royal-norfolk-regiment/?portfolioCats=20%2C18%2C19%2C30%2C31%2C24%2C32%2C25 'WD-90775 ‘The Royal Norfolk Regiment’'] on the NNR website</ref> *WD 73672, now at Highleythe North Yorkshire Moors Railway<ref>[https://www.nymr.co.uk/war-department-2-10-0-no-3672-dame-vera-lynn No. 3672 "Dame Vera Lynn"] on the NYMR website</ref>

*[[Steam Locomotives]]<br>*[[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979]]*[[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events]] ==References==<references /> ==Notes==<references group="note"/> ==Links==*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD_Austerity_2-10-0 WD Austerity 2-10-0] on Wikipedia {{SteamNavbox}} [[Category:Featured articles]][[Category: Rolling stock owned by SVR(H)]][[Category:Rolling stock associated with the Longmoor Military Railway]]