Pannier 6430 joins South Devon fleet
GWR pannier tank No. 6430 is to stay until 2025 at the South Devon Railway, where it began its preservation career 58 years ago.
It was initially taken to Buckfastleigh to undergo contract repairs, but agreement has now been reached with owner Hugh Shipton that, following their completion during December, it will be based on the line for the rest of its current 10-year boiler ticket.
Furthermore, it will be paired with sister No.6412 for the first time since it joined the home fleet, and the pair will be rostered together for the February 19-27 half-term trains between Buckfastleigh and Staverton.
While the eastern section of the line to Totnes Riverside is being relaid as part of the line’s most ambitious winter works programme yet, its London Transport Routemaster will provide a connection between Staverton and Totnes main line station and town centre.
A veteran of sheds in South Wales and Plymouth Laira, autofitted No. 6430 was withdrawn by BR from St Blazey in October 1964 and sold to Newport scrap dealer John Cashmore, only to be immediately bought by the nascent Dart Valley Railway as spares for Nos. 6412 and 6435.
In 1990, with no place in the restoration queue available, it was sold to Hugh Shipton, who spent £200,000 on rebuilding it. Along with numerous new components, a new boiler barrel was manufactured and fitted to the existing smokebox and firebox.
It returned to steam at Llangollen in 2003. It has visited the South Devon Railway on several occasions and is now in its second 10-year boiler ticket.
General manager Ernest Elsworth-Wilson said: “It’ll be great to have the two 64s working together, if we can achieve this. Both locos have such a close attachment to the line with 1934-built No. 6412 hauling our first train back in 1969, and 1937-built No. 6430 back on the line and in working order, having been bought as a source of spares in 1966 and leaving us in 1990 as a kit of parts.”