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→The overweight locomotive
The Severn Valley Branch was classified as a [[GWR Power and Weight Classification#GWR route classification colours|'dotted blue' route]] between Bewdley and Ironbridge. Heavier [[GWR Power and Weight Classification#GWR route classification colours|'Red' locomotives]] were banned, especially because of the restrictions in place on [[Victoria Bridge]].
'Asleft', a fireman at Kidderminster in the late 1940s, recounted that on one occasion the running department allocated a [[GWR 5600 Class 5619|GWR 56xx 5600 class locomotive]] to work the [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley Colliery]] coal trains. Without checking, the foreman booked this to be sent to Hartlebury to relieve the morning engine. There 'Asleft' and his driver prepared the locomotive, noting that it was particularly dirty as usual. They were unfamiliar with the class but duly worked the empty coal train to Alveley. Only then, while oiling the motion, did the driver catch sight of a faint red disc beneath the dirt and realise that the locomotive should not be there!
They opted to return over Victoria Bridge and complete the day's work, after which the driver sought out the foreman and said he was prepared to make his report. 'Asleft' concluded "''What happened I do not know, but the engine was not there the next day, or ever again''"<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|'Asleft' (1978)]], pp. 46-47.</ref>.
