Talk:BR Riddles 4MT 80079

Regarding Patrick's recent edit, can anyone confirm to what extent the Standard Class 4 tanks were used on the Severn Valley branch in service? The BR Database suggests several were withdrawn from Kidderminster shed in 1965, so they were certainly in the area. However I've seen photos in various books of at least 6 different Class 3 tanks on the line (82000/04/05/09/21/32) but I don't remember a photo of a Class 4. --Robin (talk) 13:36, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

Based on route availability arguments, it seems unlikely - at least with any regularity! The "Locomotive Route Availability" booklet available on Michael Clemen's site shows 3MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. tanks as Yellow, whilst 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. tanks are rated as Blue. Given the SVRSevern Valley Railway's classification as dotted blue from Bewdley to Buildwas, any 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. tank would be limited to 25mph. --Danny252 (talk) 15:11, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

...on the other hand, we do have historic photos of 80072 pottering about the line on multiple days in 1963! Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Seems those route availability restrictions didn't phase BRBritish Rail or British Railways planners. --Danny252 (talk) 20:31, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

Interesting find - the weather certainly looks right for Winter 62/63! The BRBritish Rail or British Railways Database has 80072 allocated to Swansea East Dock at the time – I wonder how it finished up working services on the SVRSevern Valley Railway from there? Maybe locos ended up in the wrong place because of the snow and BRBritish Rail or British Railways just used what was available. --Robin (talk) 13:27, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

...Possible answer, the 80072 loco website suggests an earlier spell at Shrewsbury not mentioned in the BRBritish Rail or British Railways Database. The exceptional weather could certainly be a reason to take liberties with the route classification. --Robin (talk) 13:38, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

...Additionally, from the article, "I refer in the article to it moving on to Shrewsbury - this was because I have documentary evidence of it there at this time. However, I have established that it wasn't shedded there then but would be a likely visitor because it was working the Central Wales line which ended up at Shrewsbury..." Fits the hypothesis that BRBritish Rail or British Railways used it because it was there at the time. --Robin (talk) 13:46, 29 March 2017 (UTC)

Just noticed there is a photo in SVRSevern Valley Railway News 15 of 80078 at Bridgnorth in 1963 with the 5.32pm from Shrewsbury. The loco was allocated to Croes Newydd at the time, so possibly another ad hoc working. --Robin (talk) 13:24, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

I wonder if Shrewsbury shed was suffering from a shortage of motive power in 1963 (perhaps due to the winter weather, as you say). Perusing Michael Clemens' book on Shropshire lines, I couldn't find any photos of 4MTThe British Railways system of classifying steam locomotives by power using a number from 0, least powerful, to 9, most powerful, followed by either F for freight, P for Passenger or MT for Mixed Traffic. tanks on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, but the similarly rated 41xx tanks were regularly seen on freight, plus one or two exceptional passenger services on the Tenbury branch. --Danny252 (talk) 17:14, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

I've seen Michael Clemens does talks at the branches, If someone is in contact with him, he might know more? As for my original edit, I was sure I had seen photos both of standard 3 and 4 tanks--Patrick Hearn (talk) 17:20, 30 March 2017 (UTC)