The Severn Valley Railway and Great Central Railway held events this weekend to remember the end of steam locomotives on British Rail, which happened 50 years ago.
Both railways had locomotives on show that hauled sections of the 1T57 ‘The Fifteen Guinea Special' to celebrate the last steam train on British Rail in 1968.
Severn Valley Railway
LMS Black 5, No. 45110, was out at Kidderminster station on the Severn Valley Railway. Although out of steam, photos were able to be taken of this locomotive outside as it is normally kept at The Engine House at Highley.
No. 45110 hauled the Fifteen Guinea Special from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria. The locomotive was a replacement for 45305 which had failed with a collapsed brick arch. The locomotive also hauled the return Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street.
Also at Kidderminster was LMS 8F No.48773, whilst this didn't take part in the Fifteen Guinea Special, it did take part in the ‘Grand Finale of Steam' over the Trans-Pennine route via Copy Pit and also worked the LCGB ‘Farewell to Steam' on the 4th August 1968.
Ivatt 4 ‘Flying Pig' No. 43106 also hauled a recreation of the 1T57 ‘Fifteen Guinea Special' along the length of the Severn Valley Railway from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and return.
Great Central Railway
Meanwhile, at the Great Central Railway, they were holding their End of BR Steam Gala. BR Britannia No.70013 Oliver Cromwell was in operation. This locomotive, along with LMS Black 5 No. 45110, hauled The Fifteen Guinea Special. 700013 hauled the train from Manchester Victoria, taking over from 45110, to Carlisle, where it was replaced by 44781 and 44871.
70013 Oliver Cromwell's boiler ticket expires in 2018, so this made it one of the few galas in which Oliver Cromwell will appear at before overhaul.
Another locomotive in action was 73156. This Standard 5 locomotive was in the guise of scrapped sister locomotive 73069. The significance of this was that 73069 hauled the 1L50 Railway Correspondence & Travel Society “End of Steam Commemorative Railtour” on the 4th August 1968.
Intensive timetables were in operation at both railways, with diesel locomotives mixing in with the steam locomotives to provide an era just like the 4th August 1968.
Thanks to…
A big thanks to Cameron White and Jake Bonner for the use of their pictures. Click here and here respectively to view their YouTube Channels.
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