The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway has announced that Ex-GWR Pannier tank No. 9466 will be visiting them in 2020.
The locomotive will bring a return of steam services towards the end of the 2020 season, with the locomotive continuing to operate at the EVR throughout the 2021 season.
9466 was on loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this loan period has been cut short.
GWR 9466 visits the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway thanks to its owners, JJP Holdings South West Ltd.
Michael Evans, Managing Director of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, told RailAdvent: “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to operate such a popular and reliable locomotive on our line. We have had several successful hires over the previous few years and were disappointed that this year's plans couldn't come to fruition due to the Coronavirus pandemic but we are now really excited to be looking forward to seeing steam down the valley once again.”
Jonathan Jones Pratt, 9466's owner, told RailAdvent: “We are equally pleased to share this good news, it appears to have gone down well already and we are proud to be able to support the EVR with 9466. We are looking forward to working with the Railway and I am sure that our 94 will go down very well with the crews and passengers! It's nice to see that the movement is beginning to recover in 2020 and beyond of which we are glad to play a small in this for the Railway. ”
About 9466
One of the last designs produced for the GWR by Hawksworth. The class first appeared in 1947, just before the GWR became the Western Region under British Railways.
9466 was built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in 1951, with the engine being allocated to Worcester (85A) in early 1952.
The class was unfortunate in that diesel shunters were increasing in number, starting to replace the 94XXs from the late 1950s onwards. 9466 lasted until Summer 1964, where the engine was withdrawn and sold to Barry Scrapyard.
Saved from Barry in 1977, 9466 returned to steam at Quainton Road Railway Centre in the Mid 1980s. Throughout preservation, 9466 has run on both mainline and preserved lines. The tank currently wears BR Unlined Black with Early Crest.
This is a breaking news item and will be updated when more information is available.
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This is Surprisingly Good News… This Well-Preserved ex-Great Western Engine is really going to cheerily wow those who live near… let alone visit the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
Let’s Hope the ”Eagerly-Must-Visit” EVR – Which runs between Duffield & Wirksworth/Ravenstor… Has A Successful Grand Reopening…
I myself still hope to visit the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway ‘in-person’ someday… To check it out, Ride the Well-Restored Rails of the Whole Length of the Lovingly Restored Derbyshire Branch Line… Especially to see whether Steam or even Heritage Diesels/Railcars, In Action.
Also, The EVR… Also shares it’s initials with that of the same shared EVR initials of the
Eden Valley Railway – At Warcop, Cumbria.
Good Luck to this GWR Tank Loco visiting the ‘Ecclesbourne Valley Rly in Derbyshire’ which I also wish Good Luck Too.