Talk:Ivatt Class 4 Group
The 82045 newsletter states "It's a shame that so few of the numerous LMS tanks made it into preservation: David Williams ... told me that a Stanier nearly made it to the SVR from store at Lostock Hall but that the last two members of the class had gone for scrap a couple of weeks before he and colleagues visited the shed with the intention of reserving one of them. The Foreman offered them 43106 instead, and the rest is history!"
The story was somewhat different at the time. In SVR News 10 (October 1968), David wrote in an article on 43106's arrival, "The original intention of the present writer to purchase a Fairburn 2-6-4 tank in November 1967 had failed through lack of finance. After several other considered possibilities, a meeting of 15 Society members ... in February 1968 had come to a majority decision that the only locomotive type left on BR suitable for Severn Valley service was the Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0, ugly though it undeniably was. Our Sales Officer, Mr. John Riding who often visits his native Lancashire on business, kindly called in at Lostock Hall to find which of the six remaining 2-6-0s was in the best condition. The answer from all concerned with running and maintenance at Lostock Hall was unhesitatingly 43106."
The BR Database at January 1967 shows 4 LMS 2-6-4 tanks at Lostock Hall but only one of them was a Stanier:
- Fairburn 4P Withdrawn 21 Jan 1967
- Fairburn 4P Withdrawn 15 Mar 1967
- Stanier 4P Withdrawn 01 Apr 1967
- Fairburn 4P Withdrawn 06 May 1967
It is of course possible that another Stanier was moved into store at Lostock Hall after being withdrawn elsewhere. All the Staniers (apart from the 3-cyl prototype at the NRM) were scrapped which accords with the 82045 article, whereas 2 Fairburns are preserved (at the L&H). It's a bit late at night to work out if and how the article should be phrased.
Just to add to the confusion, the same SVR News article states there were 15 members at the time 43106 was acquired (and names them all), which is different from the 18 mentioned in the Railway Herald article. Of course it was all more than 50 years ago... --Robin (talk) 21:21, 9 September 2021 (UTC)