GCR ‘STANDARD FIVE’ STEAMS AGAIN FOR BIG 1968 BASH

‘5MT’ No. 73156 will take on identity of railtour celebrity for end-of-steam commemoration.

‘Standard Five’ No. 73156 has returned to traffic at the Great Central Railway – ready to assume the identity of an historic classmate and mark the end of BR steam. The Riddles 4‑6‑0 steamed for the first time in preservation last year following a 31‑year restoration from Barry condition – but subsequently had to be withdrawn and lifted from its wheels to cure a recurring problem of hot bearings (SR472/3 and 476). During the winter, its driving wheelsets were sent to South Devon Railway Engineering for attention to the crank pins and coupling rods, and the wheelsets were refitted on April 18. After hydraulic and steam tests, it re‑entered service at the GCR’s ‘Goods Galore’ event on May 12/13, alongside five other members of the resident steam fleet. It is planned to renumber the locomotive as No. 73069 for the GCR’s ‘End of BR Steam’ 50th anniversary gala on August 4/5 and 11/12. The original No. 73069 was the last ‘Standard Five’ in service in 1968, double‑heading with ‘8F’ No. 48476 on the RCTS railtour during the final day of enthusiast workings on August 4 that year. The two Lostock Hall drivers of that train – John Burnett, who was at the regulator of No. 73069, and Harold Bolton, who drove No. 48476 – have been invited to attend the gala. Steam Railway appeal ‘Britannia’ No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell will be in steam for the event, with its duties including a recreated ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’. Tickets are expected to go on sale shortly via the GCR’s website at www.gcrailway.co.uk It is hoped that former Lostock Hall ‘Black Five’ No. 45305, and ‘8Fs’ Nos. 48305 and 48624, will all be in action subject to boiler repairs, overhauls and boiler certificate extensions. Event organiser Martyn Ashworth plans to recreate as many authentic scenes from 1968 as possible, saying: “If you were there in 1968, it’ll remind you of what it was like; if you weren’t, it’ll be as close as you can get in the modern age.” Anyone who would like to assist with photographs, memories or suggestions can contact Mr Ashworth, c/o the GCR at Loughborough Central station.

IF YOU WERE THERE IN 1968, IT’LL REMIND YOU OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE MARTYN ASHWORTH

GRAHAM NUTTALL With the mountsorrel Quarry branch curving away on the right, BR ‘5mt’ 4‑6‑0 no. 73156 runs through Swithland Sidings on the 11am Loughborough Central‑Rothley Brook parcels train during the Great Central Railway’s ‘Goods Galore’ gala on may 12.