1968’s LUCKY 13 – SURVIVORS THAT COULD RUN IN AUGUST
The locomotives that could be in action to celebrate end of steam’s 50th anniversary.
As many as 13 end-of-steam veterans could be in operation for the 50th anniversary of the end of main line steam in August. Seventeen now-preserved steam locomotives survived in BR service until the final year of main line standard gauge steam – 11 of which could be in action five decades later, plus two of the three Vale of Rheidol Railway 2-6-2Ts. In addition, a trio of locomotives currently on static display will take part in 50th anniversary events, with ‘Black Five’ No. 45110 and ‘8F’ No. 48773 appearing at the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Last Days of Steam’ event (see separate story), while BR ‘4MT’ No. 75027 – recently outshopped following cosmetic overhaul – is expected to help the Bluebell Railway open its Accessible Steam Heritage project some time in August. Only four operational engines – Ivatt ‘4MT’ No. 43106, ‘Black Fives’ Nos. 45231 and 45305 and ‘Britannia’ No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell – will be actively participating in end-of-steam events, with Nos. 43106 and 45231 rostered to appear at the Severn Valley Railway, and the ‘7MT’ and No. 45305 at the Great Central Railway. The latter ‘Five’ is undergoing firebox repairs at Loughborough, but custodian spokesman Tom Tighe said: “We’re going to give it our best shot to finish it in time.” Another question mark hangs over GCR ‘8F’ No. 48305, which is under overhaul but hoped to appear at the ‘End of BR Steam’ gala on August 4/5 and 11/12. The other engines are nominally in service on other preserved railways and the main line.