Swindon & Cricklade Railway secures second Great Western 0-6-2T
GWR ‘56XX’ 0-6-2T No. 5637 is returning to the railway where it was first restored at the end of March, when it transfers to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway (S&CR) after more than 20 years away.
An agreement has been reached between the railway and the
5637 Steam Locomotive Group to bring the 1925-built loco back to Blunsdon once its contracted duties at the East Somerset Railway (ESR) have been met.
This will take place following the ESR Steam Gala on March 21-22 (see separate story).
‘Homecoming’
The news of No. 5637’s ‘homecoming’ comes just a few weeks after the railway announced classmate No. 6695 would be moving to the line following the termination of its ‘restore-and-run’ agreement at the West Somerset Railway.
The two locos last met in 2007 during a gala at the East Somerset Railway, with the S&CR becoming the only heritage railway able to boast two operational ‘56XXs’.
No. 5637’s connections with the S&CR go back to 1982 when it was acquired for the line by the GW Steam Loco Group from Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley.
The group was subsequently renamed the 5637 Steam Locomotive Group, and over the next 16 years restored the loco in the open air at Blunsdon.
It first steamed in March 1998, but moved to the ESR in July of that year, so beginning a hire lasting more than two decades.
However, No. 5637’s boiler certificate expires in April, and with Ivatt ‘2MT’ No. 46447 in service and the Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Prairies Nos. 4555 and 4110 soon to join the railway on a two-year loan, the ESR elected not to put No. 5637 through another overhaul, freeing it up for a return to Swindon.
S&CR spokesman Allan Bott said: “This is another great acquisition for the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
“Not only will we have another fantastic Swindon-built locomotive on site, it also sees the return of a much-loved locomotive following a twentyyear absence.
Powerful
“No. 5637 is a powerful locomotive that will supplement the steam loco fleet, and gives us two ex-GWR locomotives.”
When No. 5637 arrives the S&CR will have three of the 0-6-2Ts on site.
The loco is expected to be in steam at the S&CR’s own gala on March 28-29 when it will join on-hire sister engine No. 5619.
The railway hopes that all three locos – Nos. 5619, 5637 and
6695 – can steam together before No. 5619’s hire comes to an end.