‘2MT’S’ WESTERN WELCOME
Fifty years since it ended its BR career working over former Cambrian metals from Shrewsbury shed, BR Standard ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 78018 found itself among a Western Region gathering to mark its preservation debut. The Riddles ‘Mogul’ entered revenueearning service at the Great Central Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala of October 6-9, following a 35-year restoration by the Darlington Railway Preservation Society and Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group. First moved under its own steam on August 17 (SR458), No. 78018 made a loaded test run to Leicester North on October 5, the first train that it had hauled since withdrawal at Shrewsbury in November 1966. Afterwards, said LSLG Company Secretary Andy Fillingham: “It ran ‘straight out of the box’ for all four days of the gala with no major issues, so we’re very pleased - and not a little relieved!” The opportunity was taken to double-head the BR ‘2MT’ with its cousin from the LSLG stable Ivatt No. 46521, which was withdrawn just two weeks earlier in October 1966, at Machynlleth. Both ‘Moguls’ were also paired in Cambrian combinations with the sole guest - GWR ‘45XX’ 2-6-2T No. 4566. No. 78018 now rubs shoulders with three former shedmates resident at the GCR. Returning to service after a retube and repaint was ‘Jinty’ No. 47406 (allocated to Workington with No. 78018 during 1962), ‘Black Five’ No. 45305 (at Willesden with the ‘2MT’ during 1963) and another Stanier resident of 1A depot, ‘8F’ No. 48624. With some 4,000 visitors over the four days, GCR General Manager Richard Patching described it as “a rather good gala… good weather, operationally slick, excellent feedback from visitors and the sums added up!”