WD 193 Shropshire

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WD 193 in Bridgnorth Yard in 1972 (David Cooke)
WD 193 passes Hampton Loade signal box in 1972 (David Cooke)

WD 193 'Shropshire' was resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway between 1971 and 1981.

The War Department Austerity 0-6-0ST was the standard World War 2 shunting engine, designed by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds and built between 1942 and 1946 to the requirements of the Ministry of Supply. A number of these engines were also built by sub-contractors. The design continued to be built into the 1950s for industrial users, including the National Coal Board. This locomotive was built by Hunslets in 1953 as Works Number 3793, and formed part of a further batch ordered for WD (Army) use, who allocated the number WD 193.

WD 193 was initially put into store, but later moved to the WD-operated Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway based at Kinnerley, where it saw intermittent use. On 20 March 1960 WD 193 worked a special last train over the S & M organised by the Stephenson Locomotive Society, before moving to the Arncott workshops at Bicester in June 1960. During the 1960s 193 was kept at the Long Marston Depot, mainly in store.

After being declared surplus to requirements by the MOD, WD 193 was bought in June 1971 for use on the SVRSevern Valley Railway. Following a re-paint into a dark green livery while still at Long Marston, 193 was moved to the SVRSevern Valley Railway in August of that year. WD 193 thereafter saw regular use, recording mileage in every year of the 1970s. In the early 1970s the locomotive hauled all the Santa services single handed.

In 1977 WD 193 was repainted into a crimson lake livery. The locomotive was also given the name 'Shropshire'.

In 1981 WD 193 was lent to the 6000 Locomotive Association who were based at the Bulmers Railway Centre at Hereford. The locomotive traveled there in steam in convoy with 4930 Hagley Hall and ‘Black 5’ LMSLondon Midland & Scottish Railway 5000 which were setting off on main line duties. The move to Hereford eventually became permanent, with the SVRSevern Valley Railway Board announcing in late 1983 that WD 193 was being sold.

As of February 2015, WD 193 is based at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston.

Gallery

Sources

SVRSevern Valley Railway News
Severn Valley Railway Stock Book, seventh edition.

Links

Ribble Steam Railway page for WD 193 Retrieved 26 February 2015.

See also

Former Residents