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Taw Valley was built at the SR’s Brighton Works and named after a river in Devon. The locomotive entered service in April 1946 as SR West Country number [[UIC classification | 21C127]]. It was originally allocated to Ramsgate where it worked London to Kent expresses. In 1947 Taw Valley moved to Exmouth Junction, working mainly in Devon and Battle Cornwall. Here the locomotive would have hauled named trains such as the ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ and ‘Devon Belle’. Taw Valley was re-numbered 34027 by BR in April 1948 as part of the re-numbering programme following nationalisation.<ref>[http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=S&id=346201027&loco=21C127 BRDatabase]</ref> In September 1957 Taw Valley became the second member of Britain classes were designed the class to be rebuilt at BR's works at Eastleigh to a more conventional design set out by Ron Jarvis,<ref group=note>Jarvis succeeded Oliver Bulleid, as manager of the Brighton Works on the CME Southern Region of the Southern Railway (SR)newly nationalised British Railways. Lighter in weight than their sister locomotives, </ref> who had already been responsible for similar rebuilds to the Merchant Navy class. Following this rebuild the locomotive was allocated to the Bricklayers Arms depot in south-east London, working services to Kent. After the lines were electrified, 34027 moved to Brighton in May 1961 to work commuter services from there. Following transfer to Salisbury in September 1963, they could be used Taw Valley was withdrawn from service by BR in August 1964<ref name=SB8>SVR Stock Book Eight Edition</ref> and towed to [[Barry Scrapyard]], arriving there in December 1964<ref name=BarryList>[[Bibliography#Other References|Beckett & Hardingham (2010)]] pp. 66, 85.</ref>. ==34027 Taw Valley in preservation==Taw Valley became the 112th locomotive to leave Barry when departing in April 1980.<ref name=BarryList/> The locomotive was initially privately purchased for use on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, but moved to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury in November 1982 where restoration began in earnest.<ref group="note">The Barry List also refers to a wide variety move to Hull after the NYMR.</ref> In August of routes including in 1985 the SVR announced that agreement had been reached with then owner Bert Hitchen for the locomotive to move to the SVR where restoration to main line standard would be completed by the SVR as a contract job. It was then anticipated that the locomotive would become resident while working both on the south-west of England SVR and [[The Severn Valley Railway on the Kent coastmain line | on the main line]]. <ref name=SVR77>SVR News 77, 78</ref>

They were a mixed===First boiler ticket===The locomotive arrived by road at Bridgnorth on 18 August 1985,<ref name=SB8/> becoming the SVR's first Southern Region pacific (an earlier [[Tales from the Severn Valley#The 'Bodmin' Fund|attempt to acquire classmate 34016 Bodmin for the railway]] having been thwarted). At the time the tender was complete, everything above the frame level having been newly built, while the boiler was at the re-traffic designtubing stage.<ref name=SVR77/> Part of the restoration involved forging and machining new connecting rods, the originals having long since vanished. A steam test was successfully completed in April 1987, being used for both passenger <ref>SVR News 83, 84</ref> and freight restoration was completed in October 1987 when trial running began; the locomotive also worked several trainswith fare paying passengers on board. Final painting began in February 1988, and the locomotive entered service in June 1988 with a formal re-naming ceremony taking place on 4 June<ref>SVR News 88, 89</ref>. 34027 then worked every weekend until the winter season to allow as many of the footplate staff as possible to experience the new locomotive; highlights included lifting 16 coaches out of Bridgnorth with no difficulty during the [[Autumn Steam Gala]]. In spring 1981 34027 was examined by BR inspectors and declared mechanically fit for main line working apart from the tender wheels which were rated 7P6F by British Railwaysdeemed to be below scrapping size.<ref>SVR News 90, 91</ref>

Originally built with innovative features including air-smoothed casings Following a loaded test run from Derby to Sheffield and chain-driven valve gearback on 12 May 1989, many Taw Valley was then rostered for a summer season of excursions on the locomotives including 34027 'North Wales Coast Express' between Crewe and Holyhead. During a press run from Crewe on 20 June, the locomotive suffered a slightly bent radius rod. After this was disconnected the locomotive completed the journey at a modest 50 mph. Repairs were rebuilt completed within a week and the locomotive went on to produce a series of excellent performances Taw Valley returned in time for the September [[Autumn Steam Gala]] but was then requested at short notice by British Railways in BR to run the Marylebone steam programme from early November until the late 1950send of March 1990.<ref>SVR News 93, 94</ref>

Taw Valley was built returned in time to take part in 1946 at the SR’s Brighton WorksApril 1990 [[Spring Steam Gala]]. Sunday 13 May saw the normal summertime Table C timetable in use, requiring 5 steam locomotives. It Only later was originally allocated to Ramsgate where it entered service as pointed out that the SVR had unknowingly achieved a ‘full house’ by rostering [[GWR Small Prairie 4566|GWR 4566]], SR number 21C12734027 Taw Valley, [[LMS Ivatt Class 2 46443|LMS 46443]], [[61994 The Great Marquess|LNER 3442 The Great Marquess]] and [[BR Riddles 4MT 75069|BR Standard 75069]] on the same day. Another summer season of 'North Wales Coast Express followed. On return, a weep was found on one of the thermic syphons which was repaired in time for the Autumn Steam Gala. The locomotive was re-numbered 34027 by BR following nationalisationalso worked the 1990 Santa Services, although managing to run out of coal on the first weekend.<ref>SVR News 96, 97, 98</ref> Taw Valley set off for a season on the Welsh Marches Express in February 1991. In 1947 summer of that year SVR News announced that Taw Valley was ''unlikely to return to the SVR after its current commitments''<ref>SVR News 99</ref>, and in winter 1991 the locomotive had moved to Exmouth Junctionthe North Yorkshire Moors Railway.<ref>SVR News 101</ref> A brief return to the SVR took place between July and early September 1992<ref>SVR News 103</ref>, following which the locomotive again left the Railway. Taw Valley's last main line working mainly was in Devon March 1994, and Cornwallby 1995 the locomotive was undergoing a full overhaul at the NYMR.<ref>SVR News 115</ref> Mileage as reported in SVR News was as follows:{| class="wikitable"! Year !! Mileage |-| 1987 || style="text-align:right;" | 574|-| 1988 || style="text-align:right;" | 2,416|-| 1989 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,425|-| 1990 || style="text-align:right;" | 11,525|-| 1991 || style="text-align:right;" | 660|-| 1992 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,070|-|} Note: The 1991 and 1992 mileage figures appear not to include main line working. Here Mileage post-1992 was not published in SVR News. ===Second boiler ticket===Following overhaul, Taw Valley underwent a test run on the main line in late 1996, during which the middle cylinder liner suffered damage. Repairs required the removal of the old liner, re-boring of the cylinder block, and installing and re-boring a new liner.<ref>SVR News 121</ref> The new cylinder liner was machined at the locomotive would have hauled named trains such SVR as a contract job during 1998.<ref>SVR News 127</ref> By 2000, Taw Valley was again working on the main line, notably appearing around the country that year in maroon livery as 'Hogwarts Express' to publicise the ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ Harry Potter books which were then being published.  Taw Valley arrived back on the SVR on 11 April 2001 having been put up for sale by Bert Hitchen and acquired by long-standing SVR member Phil Swallow via [[Taw Valley Limited]]. The locomotive soon became a regular on SVR services and ‘Devon Belle’took part in the 2001 Autumn Steam Gala, still in 'Hogwarts Express' livery. In 1957<ref>SVR News 136, after being rebuilt137, 138</ref> Taw Valley moved returned briefly to the main line, working main line tours either side of Christmas. In March 2002 Taw Valley appeared at the Spring Steam Gala running as 34045 Ottery St. Mary. The locomotive then spent nearly two months during the summer in the boiler shop in a semi stripped-down state with the cab removed to enable two thirds of the Southeast and worked commuter services from Brightonboiler stays to be replaced. Following transfer Despite a major effort, the Locomotive Department were just unable to Salisbury complete the work in 1963time for the Autumn Steam Gala.<ref>SVR News 140, 141</ref>. Main line running with periodic returns to the SVR continued until May 2005. This included a number of rail tours in which the locomotive ran as sister locomotive 34045 Ottery St Mary. In March 2004 Taw Valley withdrawn from service by BR made a 2-week visit to the West Somerset Railway during which during which it was successively renumbered and re-named 34022 Exmoor and 34046 Braunton.<ref>SVR News 147</ref> The locomotive also appeared in August 1964 and towed to Barry scrap yardthe Autumn Steam Gala of 2005 as 34036 Westward Ho, the last gala appearance before going out of ticket.<brref>SVR News 152</ref>. Mileage as reported in SVR News was as follows:{| class="wikitable"! Year !! Mileage |-| 2001 || style=34027 Taw Valley "text-align:right;" | 6,210|-| 2002 || style="text-align:right;" | 1,357|-| 2003 || style="text-align:right;" | 4,302|-| 2004 || style="text-align:right;" | 7,532|-| 2005 || style="text-align:right;" | TBA|-|} Mileage pre-2001 and post 2004 was not published in preservationSVR News. ===Main line appearances===<div id="MainLine"></div>After being saved As noted above, Taw Valley spent considerable periods of time on the main line during both her first and second boiler tickets. The table below has been compiled from Barryvarious sources including Six Bells Junction, UK Steam and SVR News. However it may not be complete. {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"!Date!!Tour name !! Route !! Notes !! Web !! SVR News|-|12 May 1989|| || Derby - Sheffield + return || Loaded test run || ||93-19|-|02 Jul 1989|| || Crewe - Llandudno - Holyhead + return || First run || ||93-19|-|04 Jul 1989||North Wales Coast Express || Crewe - Llandudno - Holyhead + return || Various North Wales Coast Expresses around this time || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/890704_1.htm SBJ] |||-|16 Aug 1989||North Wales Coast Express || Crewe - Llandudno - Holyhead + return || Returned to SVR for ASG 23 September || ||94-41|-|13 Aug 1989||North Wales Coast Express || Crewe - Llandudno - Holyhead + return || Returned to SVR for ASG 23 September || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/890813_1.htm SBJ] |||-|11 Nov 1989||Robin Hood || Derby - London Marylebone || Low water at Banbury, fire dropped, restoration began elsewhere but was completed later relit and continued. || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/891111df.htm SBJ] ||94-13|-|02 Dec 1989||William Shakespeare || Marylebone - Stratford + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/891202df.htm SBJ] ||95-36|-|30 Dec 1989||The Thames-Avon || Marylebone - Stratford + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/891230fs.htm SBJ] ||95-37|-|20 Jan 1990||Robin Hood || Marylebone - Nottingham + return || Due to return from Marylebone 31 March (95-8) || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/900120fs.htm SBJ] |||-|31 Mar 1990 || || ?-Kings Sutton-Hatton-Nottingham-Lenton Jn-? || Included on PSOV DVD 'Taw Valley 1990-1994' || |||-|16 Jul 1990||North Wales Coast Expres || Crewe - Holyhead - Crewe || "Successful season.." 97-23, winter at Holyhead 98-15 || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/900716nw.htm SBJ] |||-|01 Aug 1990||North Wales Coast Expres || || || ||98-9|-|08 Aug 1990||North Wales Coast Express || || || [http://locoperformance.tripod.com/edition20/r34027hol1990.htm Locoperf] |||-|26 Aug 1990||North Wales Coast Express || || || ||97-52|-|09 Feb 1991||Welsh Marches Express || Crewe - Hereford || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/910209fs.htm SBJ] |||-|16 Feb 1991 ||Welsh Marches Express? || ?-Abergele-Llandulas-Llandudno Jn-? || PSOV DVD || |||-|23 Feb 1991||Welsh Marches Express || Crewe - Shrewsbury - Hereford || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/910223_1.htm SBJ] |||-|6 Sep 1991 || || ?-Hasland-Pear Tree-Small Heath || PSOV DVD || |||-|12 Sep 1991||Shepway Festival || Folkestone Harbour - Folkestone Train Roads (multiple) || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/910912ns.htm SBJ] |||-|13 Sep 1991||Shepway Festival || Folkestone Harbour - Folkestone Train Roads (multiple) || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/910913ns.htm SBJ] |||-|19 Oct 1991||Fen Line Steam Weekend || Kings Lynn - Ely - Cambridge + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/911019fs.htm SBJ] |||-|30 Nov 1991||Welsh Marches Express || Hereford - Shrewsbury - Chester - Crewe || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/911130fs.htm SBJ] |||-|14 Dec 1991||Cumbrian Mountain Express || Lostock Hall Jn - S&C - Carlisle || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/911214fs.htm SBJ] |||-|28 Dec 1991 || || ?-Horton-Selside-Ais Gill-? || PSOV DVD || |||-|08 Feb 1992||Cumbrian Mountain Express || Carlisle - S&C - Farington Jn || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/920208fs.htm SBJ] |||-|25 Apr 1992 || || ?-Condover-Marshbrook-Onibury-? || PSOV DVD || |||-|06 Jun 1992||Ashford 150 Festival Specials || Ashford - Appledore - Rye - Hastings + return (multiple) || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/920606n2.htm SBJ] |||-|10 Jun 1992 || || ?-Romney-Salisbury-? || PSOV DVD. D/H with 75069 || || |-|18 Oct 1992 || South Western Limited || ?-Crewkerne Bank-? || PSOV DVD ||[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/921018ns.htm SBJ] |||-| 10 Apr 1993 || || Salisbury-Yeovil-Salisbury || PSOV DVD || || |-|29 Aug 1993 || || Didcot-Bristol || PSOV DVD || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930829fs.htm SBJ) || |-|5 Sep 1993 ||Rougemont Limited || Exeter-Waterloo || PSOV DVD || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930905lh.htm SBJ] || |-|12 Sep 1993 || || Salisbury-Waterloo || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930912fs.htm SBJ] || |-|9 Sep 1993 || || Exeter?-Waterloo || PSOV DVD || || |-|26 Sep 1993 || || Eastleigh-Yeovil-Waterloo || PSOV DVD. D/H with S15 828 ||[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930926fs.htm SBJ] || |-|19 Feb 1994||South Western Swansong || London Waterloo - Yeovil Junction + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/940219_1.htm SBJ] |||-|23 Feb 1994||Yorkshireman || Banbury-Sheffield || || [http://locoperformance.tripod.com/edition20/r34027shf1994.htm Locoperf] || |-|26 Feb 1994 ||Cumbrian Mountain Limited || Bradford-Carlisle || PSOV DVD ||[http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/940226sl.htm SBJ] || |-|5 Mar 1994 || || Carlisle-Bradford || PSOV DVD. Last run before overhaul. || || |-|04 Mar 2000||Shap Attack || Crewe - Shap - Carlisle || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/000304sa.htm SBJ] |||-|08 Apr 2000||Cumbrian Mountain Express || Carlisle - Shap - Crewe || || UKS |||-|08 Jul 2000||Hogwarts Express Promotion Train || Kings Cross-Didcot-Kidderminster-Crewe || || UKS |||-|09 Jul 2000||Hogwarts Express Promotion Train || Crewe-Manchester-Bradford-York || || UKS |||-|10 Jul 2000||Hogwarts Express Promotion Train || York-Newcastle-Edinburgh || || UKS |||-|11 Jul 2000||Hogwarts Express Promotion Train || Edinburgh-Calisle-Preston || || UKS |||-|07 Oct 2000||Southern Scot || Crewe - Glasgow Central || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/001007pt.htm SBJ] |||-|14 Oct 2000||Cumbrian Taw-Tourer || Workington - Barrow - Crewe || As "Hogwarts Express" || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/001014pt.htm SBJ] |||-|22 Dec 2001||Christmas Chester Chuffer || Birmingham Int'l - Crewe - Chester - Shrewsbury - Bham Int'l || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/011222pr.htm SBJ] ||139-13|-|29 Dec 2001||Cannon of Kent || Finsbury Park - Orpington. Cannon St. - Margate - Finsbury Park || Stalled leaving London || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/011229pr.htm SBJ] ||139-13|-|12 Oct 2002||Parisian Steam Express || Victoria - Dover || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || UKS |||-|13 Oct 2002||Parisian Steam Express || Dover - Victoria || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || UKS |||-|26 Jul 2003|| || Victoria-Oxford-Worcester-Oxford-Victoria || || UKS |||-|27 Jul 2003||V.S.O.E. Bournemouth Belle || London Victoria - Salisbury. Bournemouth - Southampton || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". Stalled leaving London || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/030727vs.htm SBJ] |||-|22 Aug 2003||Surrey Hills Luncheon || Victoria-Guildford-Victoria || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || UKS |||-|06 Dec 2003||Lincolnshire Poacher || Preston-Doncaster, Doncaster-Manchester Vic || || UKS |||-|01 Sep 2004||Sunny South Special || Kensington Olympia - Weymouth - Clapham Junction || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/040901sd.htm SBJ] |||-|05 Sep 2004||Cathedrals Express || Waterloo-Salisbury-Exeter and Yevil Jc-Waterloo || || UKS |||-|06 Nov 2004|| || Victoria - Salisbury + return(?) || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/041106bp.htm SBJ] |||-|19 Nov 2004|| || Victoria - Woking - Guildford - Victoria || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/041119bp.htm SBJ] |||-|06 Dec 2004||Surrey Hills Xmas Luncheon || Victoria - Woking - Guildford - Victoria || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/041206bp.htm SBJ] |||-|10 Dec 2004|| || Victoria - Woking - Guildford - Victoria || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/041210bp.htm SBJ] |||-|02 Mar 2005|| || Victoria - Bath Spa + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050302bp.htm SBJ] |||-|11 Mar 2005|| || Victoria - Woking - Guildford - Victoria || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050311bp.htm SBJ] |||-|27 Mar 2005||Cathedrals Express || Victoria - Canterbury + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050327sd.htm SBJ] |||-|02 Apr 2005|| || Victoria - Oxford + return || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050402bp.htm SBJ] |||-|14 Apr 2005||Downsman || Victoria - Woking - Guildford - Victoria || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050414hr.htm SBJ] |||-|20 Apr 2005||Cathedrals Express || Victoria - Bristol + return || As 34045 "Ottery St. Mary". || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050420sd.htm SBJ] |||-|11 May 2005||Cathedrals Express || Waterloo - Littlehampton, Portsmouth Harbour - Waterloo || || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/050511sa.htm SBJ] |||-|colspan="6"|<small>For further information on sources and references, see [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line#SVR, where -based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line | The Severn Valley Railway on the locomotive entered service.main line]]</small>|-|}

While ===Present boiler ticket===Taw Valley’s heavy overhaul had begun by the spring of 2006, with the locomotive being fully stripped down within eight weeks.<ref>SVR News 153</ref>. The overhaul required a new left-hand cylinder to be cast.<ref>SVR News 155, 160</ref> Work on the boiler at Pridham's in Devon involved building an almost complete inner firebox and replacing most of the outer box.<ref>SVR News 165</ref> The overhaul continued to make steady progress and was eventually completed in time for Taw Valley to re-enter serviceon 16 May 2015, hauling an incoming "British Pullman" rail tour consisting of 12 coaches and a Class 67 diesel from Bewdley to Bridgnorth,<ref>I. Walker, "Steam Locomotive Notes", ''SVR News'' 190 (2015) p. 28</ref> and an SVR service from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. Taw Valley ran is the only SVR steam locomotive, apart from 600 Gordon, equipped to work with air braked rolling stock. However the locomotive is no longer registered to work on the main line as well as (the owner sold [[Carriages formerly resident on the SVR|support coach 35479]] in 2015 around the time the locomotive re-entered service). It sometimes ran numbered as sister locomotive 34045 Ottery St Mary, and has also not [[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events|appeared as the ‘Hogwarts Express’ for a at another railway]] since that time.

The locomotive Taw Valley is currently in BR Green livery featuring the final stages ‘Late Crest’. The coat of arms on her name plate were not carried in service. At the end of 2019, 34027 had recorded a length overhaultotal of 82, 767 miles in preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on the main line and is expected on hire to enter other railways<ref>SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard</ref>.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:34027_20161204.jpg| Taw Valley at [[Safari Park|Safari Park Curve]] with a [[Christmas services|Santa service ]] in Spring 2015.December 2016</gallery>

==SourcesNotes==Service history from fleetsteam.co.uk<references group="note"/>

*[[Steam Locomotives]] *[[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line]]*[[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events]]*[[Locomotive numbering|Locomotives running under different identities]] ==References==Service history from fleetsteam.co.uk<br><references /> == Links ==*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_West_Country_and_Battle_of_Britain_classes SR West Country and Battle of Britain class locomotives on Wikipedia]*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Bulleid Oliver Bulleid on Wikipedia]*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Jarvis Ron Jarvis on Wikipedia] {{SteamNavbox}} [[Category:Operational steam locomotives]][[Category:Locomotives at Bridgnorth]] [[Category:Featured articles]]