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319290 is one of a number of 165 h.p. diesel shunters at the SVR, and is one of the diesel-mechanical variety. It The locomotive was built by Ruston and Hornsby of Lincoln as works number 319290 of 1953 for use by Robertson Thain at their Ellesmere Port ironworks, and since . In February 1960 by it was sold to B.I.P. Chemicals at Langley Greenwhere it was used in the sidings on the Stourbridge to Birmingham line<ref>SVR News 23</ref>.

319290 was the first Ruston and Hornsby shunter acquired by on the SVR, being purchased arriving from B.I.P on 18 March 1972 initially on loan<ref name=SVR133>SVR News 133, “The Early SVR shunters, Chris Magner</ref> but soon acquired by [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC | SVR(H)]] . At the time it was considered the only reliable diesel shunter and arriving 18 March 1972was initially based at Bridgnorth where it was in constant demand for shunting duties as well as being used on Engineers’ trains along the line.<ref Name=SB9>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> In February 1973 319290 was called on to shunt [[GWR Large Prairie 4141]] up the back road at [[Hampton Loade]] station into its new home for restoration, a task which had defeated the smaller shunter [[Hudswell Clarke Diesel Shunter D577 Mary|D577 Mary]] the previous weekend.<ref>SVR News 41</ref> In spring of that year it was also used for the first time on a weed killing train composed of wagons, the annual task having previously been carried out from small and slow moving [[:Category:Wickham Trolley|Wickham trolleys]].<ref>SVR News 33</ref>  In June 1973, [[3205]] failed near Oldbury on a Hampton Loade to Bridgnorth train. 319290 went to the rescue and hauled the train into Bridgnorth, so becoming the first of the SVR's Rustons to haul a passenger service.<ref name=SVR133/>  During winter 1974-75 319290 suffered a mechanical issue, resulting in it only being able to travel forwards. [[WD 193 Shropshire]] was therefore kept serviceable for use on works trains until repairs were completed. <ref>SVR News 35</ref> Originally the locomotive had no number other than its works number. In winter 1975 it was repainted from green into maroon livery with cream lining, although <ref name=SB9/> after which it was commonly referred to as the “Red Ruston”. It saw  In 1977 SVR News reported [[Tales from the Severn Valley#Minor derailments|the story of 45110 being derailed on a piece of coal]]. The article noted that "''The driver involved already has his name inscribed on the trophy recording these events, a small matter involving the Ruston diesel and a crushed Wickham trolley''."<ref>SVR News 44</ref> The Ruston was in trouble again on Good Friday, 13 April 1979 when it was derailed on trap points in Bridgnorth yard, requiring re-railing by the steam crane and delaying the planned boiler lift of [[LMS Stanier Class 5 45000|LMS 5000]] until the following day.<ref>SVR News 52</ref> In late 1980 the SVR acquired a further four 165hp Ruston Diesel shunters after the closure of the Paten Shaft Steelworks at Wednesbury. Of those in the best condition, [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 11509 Alan|11509 Alan]] was allocated as Bewdley shunter, while [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Electric Shunter D2961|works no 418956]] was the Diesel Electric version and was originally intended for Permanent Way duties.<ref>SVR News 58</ref> However, experience proved that it was better suited to yard work, leaving 319290 allocated to P.Way duties.<ref>SVR News 60</ref>  In 1980 the engine received a thorough overhaul, the first since arrival. The locomotive also spent a period on loan to the Army depot at Long Marston while their own shunter was under repair.<ref name=SVR133/> In late 1981 319290 received attention to the axleboxes at Bridgnorth.<ref>SVR News 62</ref>  During 1982 the locomotive was still in regular use on P.Way trains, being photographed during relaying of sleepers at [[Folly Point]] in November.<ref>SVR News 69</ref> On 28 February 1983, it became the first locomotive to cross the SVR’s early days newly built [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge]].<ref>SVR News 68</ref> However by 1985, consideration was being given to acquiring a more powerful loco for P.Way work, the Ruston's 15 mph top speed on Engineers’ what had become a 16 mile railway with heavier works trainsresulting in restricted loads and reduced working time on site and from time to time the need double heading with [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter D2960|D2960 Silver Spoon]]. This resulted in the establishing of the [[SVR P-Way Diesel Fund]]<ref>SVR News 79</ref> and the eventual purchase of [[BR Class 25 D7633]], but now acts which arrived in January 1988. However 319290 continued to see occasional P.Way use, including being used during the laying of tracks for the new platform 2 at Kidderminster in 1990.<ref>SVR News 98</ref>. After a period out of use, the ‘Red Ruston’ was lifted for wheel removal and mechanical repairs at Kidderminster in March 1991. The wheels were sent to Bridgnorth for journal turning,<ref>SVR News 100</ref> while the repairs incorporated parts from several other Rustons subsequently cannibalised for parts, including [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 11509 Alan|Alan]] and [[Ruston and Hornsby 165hp Diesel Shunter 418789 Archibald|Archibald]]. The locomotive was also repainted in BR green livery with the fictitious number D2957.<ref name=SVR133/>  In summer 1994, D2957 became the first locomotive to be turned on the new [[Kidderminster Turntable]]. It was driven by Dave Shackleford, who also used it for powering the weed killing train worked over the whole line in spring 1995. After a further spell out of use, Brian Bessey renovated the engine.<ref name=SVR133/>  In 2003 D2957 was recorded as serviceable and based at Bewdley.<ref>SVR News 146</ref>Since that time it has continued to act as yard shunter in [[Bewdley Down Yard]] . In May 2017 it was repainted in R&H livery and renumbered 319290. It is maintained by the [[Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department]].

File:D2957_20150307.jpg |319290, numbered D2957, at Bewdley in 2015File:D2957STW.jpg |319290 with STW equipment319290 20170617.jpg|Newly repainted 319290 in Bewdley Yard in 2017

*[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br>*[[Bewdley Carriage & Wagon Department]]<br>*[[List of preservation groups]]<br>*[[Locomotive numbering|Locomotives running under different identities]]

[[Category: Rolling stock owned by SVR(H)]] [[Category:Featured articles]]