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[[File:{{Infobox black steam loco|image = 42968AtHighley.jpg|caption = 42968 at Highley in 2011|construc = LMS Crewe Works|wheels = 4-6-0|rating = 5MT|status = Out of service|locono = 42968|othernos = 13268, 2968|designed = William Stanier|locotype = '''Stanier Mogul'''|built = 1934|years1 = 1973|events1 = Arrived on SVR|years2 = 1990|events2 = First steamed in preservation|years3 = 1991|400pxevents3 = Entered regular service on SVR|right]]years4 = 1998|events4 = Withdrawn for overhaul|years5 = 2002|events5 = Reentered service|years6 = 2013|events6 = Withdrawn for overhaul|length = 69ft 10¾"|weight = 69t 2cwt|power = 26,290 lb|pressure = 225 lb/sq in}}The Stanier Moguls were one of the first classes designed by Stanier after his arrival on the LMS, the first loco of the single production lot emerging from Crewe in October 1933. 

The Stanier Moguls were one of the first classes designed by Stanier after his arrival on the LMS, the first loco of the single production lot emerging from Crewe in October 1933. 42968 was originally numbered 13268, and entered traffic on 24th 24 January 1934, allocated to Willesden shed. She was renumbered as 2968 in September 1935, and over her lifetime was allocated to a wide variety of sheds on the LMS Western Division, mostly in the North-West but including spells at Aston, Bescot and Nuneaton. Her final shed before withdrawal in 1966 was Springs Branch. By 1960, she had covered over 700,000 miles. 

Following withdrawal 42968 was purchased for scrap by [[Barry Scrapyard | Woodham Bros]]. By 1969 all other members of the class had been cut up, and the [[Stanier Mogul Fund]] was formed to preserve her as an important example of an early Stanier locomotive. Fund raising was helped by a [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|raffle organised by the SVRA North West Branch]] in 1973.<ref>SVR News 29, 30</ref> After four years the Fund had raised Woodham Bros's asking price, and the loco was hauled to the SVR by rail in , arriving 14 December 1973. Restoration began the following year.<div id="MainLine"></div>The loco moved under her own steam for the first time in preservation on 12 November 1990, completing two light engine round trips between Bridgnorth and Highley. After further light engine trips on the following Thursday, two ECS return trips to Kidderminster were scheduled for Monday 19 November. The first of these was terminated at Highley due to a bomb scare at the BSC Foley Park factory, but the afternoon trip was completed without incident.<ref>SVR News 98</ref> The locomotive officially entered SVR service on 13 April 1991 in LMS livery numbered 2968. Unfortunately, she had to be withdrawn from traffic in December 1993 due to a loose tyre. The autumn 1993 "Tyre a Mogul in 1994" [[:Category:SVR fundraising lotteries|raffle organised by the SVR Macclesfield Branch]] and drawn in January 1994 raised over £4,000 net to assist. Following tyre replacement she re-entered service in December 1994. In 1996 42968 was mainline-certified, and over the next two years hauled a number of [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line | main-line railtours]], including the Settle-Carlisle line from Crewe to Carlisle. She also took part in the 1998 "Steam On The Met" event. 42968’s main line career included a couple of ‘firsts’::On 22nd November 1997, 42968 and 7325 were the first steam locos in preservation to work a train over the 1:38 Lickey Incline. :On 3rd January 1998, 42968 set off on a rail tour from Shrewsbury to Newport and Gloucester via the Central Wales line. At Llandrindod Wells it was discovered that the track ahead was flooded, so 42968 drew the train back to Craven Arms running tender first, then ran around to take a detour via the Welsh Marches route. This was the first time that a steam-hauled special had been rerouted mid-tour. In 2001 the Stanier Mogul Fund produced “A Pictorial History of 2968 The Mighty Mogul”. This includes comprehensive reports and pictures of the locomotive’s main line tours. Copies of this publication may still be available from the SMF’s [[Stanier Mogul Fund sales stand | sales stand]]. A complete list of main line appearances is as follows:

The loco moved {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"!Date!!Tour name !! Route !! Notes !! Web !!SVR News|-|31 Aug 1996|| || Kidderminster-Gloucester + return || Test run with support coach || ||121-44|-|07 Dec 1996||Lyndum Fayre || Dorridge - Lincoln - Dorridge || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/961207pt.htm SBJ] |||-|21 Dec 1996||Cumbrian Mountain Express || Crewe - Carlisle || Deputising for 60009 Union of South Africa || |||-|04 Jan 1997||Cumbrian Mountain Express || Carlisle - Crewe || Deputising for the 60009 Union of South Africa || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/970104pr.htm SBJ] ||122-4|-|11 Jan 1997||Taffy Apple || Worcester Shrub Hill - Swansea - Worcester || D/H with 7325 || UKS ||122-4|-|08 Mar 1997||Mogul Mountaineer || Crewe - Copy Pit - York || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/970308pr.htm SBJ] ||123-7|-|18 Oct 1997||Welsh Dragon || Port Talbot - Shrewsbury || Gross load 365 tons, or 50% overload || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971018pr.htm SBJ] ||125-9|-|19 Oct 1997||Ynys Mon Express || Crewe - Holyhead - Crewe || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971019pr.htm SBJ] ||126-46|-|25 Oct 1997||Meldon Meanderer || Bristol - Exeter - Meldon Quarry || D/H with 7325, replacing 7802 (failed with hot box at Bristol) || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971025pt.htm SBJ] ||125-70|-|08 Nov 1997||Pilgrims Progres || Exeter - Plymouth - Bristol || D/H with 7325 || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971108_1.htm SBJ] ||125-70|-|15 Nov 1997||Hardy Flyer || Bristol Temple Meads - Yeovil Pen Mill - Bristol || D/H with 7325 || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971115pt.htm SBJ] ||126-48|-|22 Nov 1997||Lickey Incliner || Bristol-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge-Gloucester || D/H with 7325, first time under her own preserved steam in preservation in 1990, and officially entered SVR service in April 1991 in LMS livery and numbered 2968on the Lickey Incline || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971122pt. htm SBJ] ||126-2|-|12 Dec 1997||Chester Chuffer || Wolverhampton - Chester - Wolverhampton || Unfortunately, she had to be withdrawn from traffic in December 1993 || UKS ||126-49|-|03 Jan 1998||Central Wales Adventurer || Shrewsbury - Llandrindod Wells* - Craven Arms* - Gloucester || *Tour re-routed due to a loose tyre. flooding || UKS ||126-50|-|31 Jan 1998||Inclined Salopian || Gloucester - Lickey Incline - Bescot || D/H with 7325 || UKS ||126-49|-|16 May 1998||Steam on the Met || Amersham-Watford shuttles || || UKS |||-|17 May 1998||Steam on the Met || Amersham-Watford shuttles || || UKS ||127-15|-|23 May 1998||Steam on the Met || Amersham-Watford shuttles || || UKS |||-|24 May 1998||Steam on the Met || Amersham-Watford shuttles || Following tyre replacement she re|| UKS |||-|25 May 1998||Steam on the Met || Amersham-entered service in December 1994. Watford shuttles || In 1996 she was mainline|| UKS ||127-32|-certified|colspan="6"|<small>For further information on sources and references, and over the next two years hauled a number of see [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line#SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line | The Severn Valley Railway on the main-line railtours]], including the Settle</small>|-Carlisle line from Crewe to Carlisle. She also took part in the 1998 "Steam On The Met" event.|}

In A boiler inspection in February 1998 she found that firebox crown stays were wasted below Railtrack requirements for main line working, curtailing further railtours. However the locomotive continued in SVR service and was invited by London Underground to take part in that year’s ‘Steam on the Met’. Later that year, the locomotive was withdrawn for a full overhaul, which was completed in 2003, and she re-entered service in BR livery. She remained in service until the expiry of her boiler certificate in 2013; her current overhaul began in early 2014. {{As of|2022}} work is progressing on the boiler, frames and other components at [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]]. The locomotive was re-wheeled on 29 October 2019.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov19 Branch Lines, November 2019]</ref> The Stanier Mogul Fund intends for her to re-enter service carrying her original number, 13268.<ref> Severn Valley Railway SVR News, 189 (Spring 2015), p57. </ref>

== Sources Gallery==[http://www.staniermogulfund.org.uk/ Stanier Mogul Fund website]

 == See Also Links ==[http://www.staniermogulfund.org.uk/ Stanier Mogul Fund website]<br>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMS_Stanier_Mogul LMS Stanier Mogul on Wikipedia] {{SteamNavbox}} [[Steam Category:Locomotivesat Bridgnorth]]<br>[[The Severn Valley Railway on the main lineCategory:SVR fundraising lotteries]]