GWR Pitchford Hall put on the market
JUST over a decade since it was last sold and less than three years after returning from its most recent overhaul, GWR 4-6-0 No.4953 Pitchford Hall has been offered for sale by owner and Epping Ongar Railway managing director Roger Wright.
Following a recent review of EOR operational requirements, it was decided that 1932-built No. 4953 was considered excessive for the six-mile branch – of which only 3½ miles is between the line’s two stations.
Rolling stock manager Tony Goulding said: “At the time, and with not much else on the market, its purchase secured a steam presence for the line, and it was felt Pitchford Hall would also make an ideal flagship locomotive for the railway’s reopening in 2012. However, while more than capable of tackling our steep gradients, it is rather overpowered for the length of line we operate.”
No.4953, currently in BR-lined black livery, was bought from Dr John Kennedy in late 2011, along with GWR large prairie No.4141, after which it moved from the Great Central Railway to the Epping Ongar’s North Weald base to launch the fledgling heritage line’s return to steam services in
May 2012. It operated until midway through 2013 when it was withdrawn for an overhaul contracted out to Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd, Loughborough. Work included, among the usual overhaul necessities, a new main driving axle, complete replacement of the firebox stays, and a new backhead and front tubeplate.
Returning to steam in October 2019, it underwent running-in trials at the GCR before returning to North Weald for Santa specials that December. With the pandemic disrupting services in 2020 and 2021, it has seen less than 100 days of steaming since completion. This includes galas at the GCR in January 2020 and the Severn Valley Railway in September last year. The recent arrival of two RSH 0-6-0STs ‘Uglies’ in Nos. 56 and 63 from Ruddington will mean that, once overhauled, the EORE will not be without sufficient steam power. No.4141 is also undergoing overhaul, with the boiler at LMS
Ltd and the rolling chassis is being worked on in-house at North Weald. Bill Parker’s London Transport-liveried small prairie L150 (5521) is on loan to the EOR, which celebrates its 10th anniversary of steam operations this year. Double-chimneyed Standard 4MT No.75069 will be visiting from the SVR for the May 27-29 event.
Parties interested in Pitchford Hall can email: tonygoulding@eorailway. co.uk