Membership drive to bring Severn Valley’s exIranian railway’s 8F locomotive back to steam
THE Stanier 8F Locomotive Society, the owner of Severn Valley Railwaybased 2-8-0 No. 48773, is aiming to recruit new members to take an active part in the ongoing story of a uniquely well-travelled locomotive with a glorious past in both war and peace.
It was built by the North British Locomotive Co in Glasgow in 1940 as part of a War Department order for use in France, for which it was numbered WD 307. That country fell to Germany before the 8F could be exported, so it was loaned back to the LMS and renumbered 8233.
Subsequently sent to Iran as Iranian State Railways No. 41.109, double-heading 700-ton supply trains intended for the Soviet Union, on August 19, 1942, it was famously derailed after colliding with a camel. In 1944, it was converted to oil-burning and two years later was sent to the British Army’s Middle East Forces in Egypt where, as No. WD 70307, it worked in the Suez Canal zone. For a while, the locomotive was loaned to Egyptian State Railways but was withdrawn by 1948, needing a new firebox. Thankfully not scrapped, it was repatriated to the UK and overhauled at Derby between 1952 and 1954, and it became No. WD 500 on the Longmoor Military Railway.
Bought by BR in 1957, and later twice withdrawn for scrapping, it survived each time, finally ending its service in August 1968, based at Rose Grove.
It participated in several endof-steam railtours, including the Locomotive Club of Great Britain’s ‘Farewell to Steam’ on August 4, 1968, as well as two organised by the Manchester Rail Travel Society in conjunction with the nascent SVR, where it arrived on September 30 that year after being bought direct from BR.
The locomotive has achieved the greatest mileage in preservation of any of the SVR’s locomotives, logging 151,805 miles. On September 27, 1986, a service took place at Highley to dedicate No. 48773 as a memorial to British military railway personnel who lost their lives on active service during the Second World War, for which it carries a plaque.
It last ran in traffic on January 13, 2008, and, cosmetically restored, it was displayed in the Engine House at Highley.
The society aims to return No. 48773 to steam but first must increase its active membership, especially in the younger adult age group.
No. 48773 is set to be involved in Meet the Engine events in the Engine House on April 6/7 and 20/21 and May 4/5.
The footplate will be open to visitors without charge, and they will have the opportunity to meet existing society members who will be able to recount more of its proud history.
Discounted membership fees will be available to visitors on the day, and junior membership fees are always available to applicants up to 25 years old.
For more information, visit www.8fsociety.co.uk