The South Devon Railway has announced the first guest engine to attend their 2019 Golden Anniversary Gala.
6430
The first guest will be No.6430 thanks to the Llangollen Railway. Built in March 1937, 6430 was fitted with autotrain equipment like the other 39 engines of the 64XXs.
Devon, Cornwall and South Wales were home to the class, where they worked branch line trains on the hilly routes.
After 25-30 years in service, both closings of branch lines and the introduction of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) saw the tanks being withdrawn in the 1960s.
October 1964 saw 6430's withdrawal, with the tank moving to Cashmore for cutting up. Luckily, the Dartmouth Railway brought the engine, although as spares for their own 64XX No.6412, 6430 survived in preservation.
Restoration of 6430 was hard due to the engine's condition and losing many parts but after almost a decade, the tank moved under its own steam in December 2003. Entering traffic in Spring 2004, 6430 is now running on its second boiler ticket, after an overhaul completed in 2015. 6430 is currently based at the Llangollen Railway.
2019 Golden Anniversary Gala
More information about this event will be released on further dates.
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