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==46443 in service==
46443 was built at BR’s Crewe works in April 1950 and was based at Derby for 11 years. In 1961 46443 moved to Saltley, where duties were limited to infrequent rush hour journeys. A final move to Newton Heath (near Manchester) in 1966 was followed by withdrawal in March 1967.<ref> Information display board in [[The Engine House]]</ref>
==46443 in preservation==
46443 was purchased from BR by Richard Willcox immediately after withdrawal. BR agreed to the locomotive moving to the SVR in steam, with a final week being spent on shed pilot duties to assess the steaming capabilities. The move from Newton Heath to Bridgnorth via Crewe, Stafford, Bescot, Dudley, Stourbridge and Kidderminster took place on 22nd April, with 46443 becoming the second engine to arrive on the Severn Valley Railway.<ref>SVR News 18</ref><ref>A G Cleaver, "The Early Days Of The 'Severn Valley'", ''SVR News'' 190 (2015) p19.</ref>
46443 saw use on the SVR in the early gala events before the official opening of the SVR, and was one of the locomotives used on the opening weekend in May 1970. [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | SVR(H)]] bought the locomotive in 1972. She was taken out of service in early 1973 after the right trailing axle box caught fire. Repairs lasted until the following year, with the locomotive re-entering revenue earning service on 19 May 1974.<ref>SVR News 34</ref>. She continued in use until being withdrawn at the end of 1979 due to the poor condition of the flue tubes. She had covered more than 29,000 miles on around 600 steaming days, but announced more than any other SVR locomotive in the same period. In late 1983 SVR(H) announced that the locomotive had been sold as part of the deal that brought [[LMS Stanier Jubilee 45690 Leander|45690 Leander]] to the SVR, and that the locomotive would be leaving move to Loughborough after repairs to the following yearboiler had been carried out. <ref>SVR News 70</ref> A However the move did not take place, and a fund was launched to 'buy back' the locomotive, <ref>SVR News 71-72</ref> during which time it gained the nickname 'The Peoples Engine', and 46443 never left the SVR. It is now owned by the [[SVR 46443 Fund]]. A part of the successful fund-raising entailed the sale of T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "46443 The Peoples Engine".It is now owned by the [[SVR 46443 Fund]], having been re-acquired in Autumn 1984.<ref>SVR News 73</ref>. Following completion of the boiler repairs, the locomotive re-entered service in October 1974.<ref>SVR News 75</ref>
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Although only a Class 2 locomotive, 46443 has fully earned a place in the list of SVR locomotives that have worked [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line | on the main line]]. During the 1985 GWR 150 celebrations 46443 hauled a number of Bristol-Portishead shuttles. In July 1987, 46443 was asked to punch well above her weight when sent to Wales to replace Class 4MT 75069 on the BR Cardigan Bay Express service. On arrival, the BR footplate crews expressed the opinion that they would be "creeping around with three coaches at 20 mph!'. The first on-time arrival at Barmouth brought forth the comment "She steams quite well, doesn't she!". An early return to Machynlleth gave rise to "She isn't a bad little engine, is she!". Within two days, "I'd take ten to Pwllheli with her anytime!".
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The locomotive is now on display in [[The Engine House]] awaiting its next overhaul. 46443 features on the pub sign of [[Bridgnorth#The Railwayman's Arms | The Railwayman's Arms]] at Bridgnorth.
==See also==
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