45110 in Service
The LMS Stanier Class 5 was an immediate success when introduced into service in 1934. It was a mixed traffic locomotive that could handle anything from express passenger traffic to goods trains. 842 were built, more than any other class of locomotive before or since, and they worked all over the LMS network. Following nationalisation they were classified 5MT by British Railways and quickly became used throughout the country. They were never painted any colour but black, earning them the nickname ‘Black 5s’. The design of the British Railways Standard Class 5 was based on the Black 5.
45110 was built by the Vulcan Foundry as works number 4653/1934, and entered service in June 1935 as LMS 5110. Following nationalisation it was renumbered as 45100 by BR in 1949, and it was one of the very last steam locomotives still in use by BR when it finished its working life at Lostock Hall Shed, Preston.
The last ‘official’ train run by BR was a ‘farewell to steam’ special on 11 August 1968, 8 days after regular steam services had ended. The special train ‘1T57’ became known as the ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ after the price of tickets. 45110 took the train from Liverpool to Manchester, from where 70013 Oliver Cromwell continued to Carlisle. Two other Black 5s (44781 and 44871) began the return leg, while the honour of the final return to Liverpool fell to 45110, which thereby entered history as the last BR-owned standard gauge steam locomotive to haul a service on the national network.
45110 in preservation
45110 arrived on the SVR on 20 August 1970 in working order and entered service there the same year. It has seen service regularly since, including working main line excursions.
The locomotive is currently on display in The Engine House while awaiting its next overhaul. It is owned by SVR(H).