Clun Castle 1966

[Robspur]

After withdrawal from British Rail service at the end of 1965 and then being privately purchased 7029"Clun Castle" was kept at Tyseley. But during 1966 it was used to haul freight trains between Birmingham and Banbury which was great to see but how was that reconciled back then as a privately owned locomotive hauling revenue earning freight for British Rail ?.

 

[30907]

After withdrawal from British Rail service at the end of 1965 and then being privately purchased 7029"Clun Castle" was kept at Tyseley. But during 1966 it was used to haul freight trains between Birmingham and Banbury which was great to see but how was that reconciled back then as a privately owned locomotive hauling revenue earning freight for British Rail ?.

The prototype Deltic, DP2, D0260 Lion, the Fell loco (10100), GT3 and the HS4000 - and the D0226/0227 shunters - were all used similarly, though they were in the experimental/prototype category, so I suppose there was sufficient precedent.

I suspect it happened a bit under the radar - anyone know more than this?
https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/7029-clun-castle/

 

[Taunton]

Who actually "owned" City of Truro, which was taken out of (the old) York museum in 1957 and used on odd duties from Didcot, not only specials but periodic use on Didcot to Winchester services, and on one occasion substituting for a failed Warship on The Bristolian . The GWR gave it to the LNER's York museum in the 1930s, I doubt it was listed in running assets at nationalisation, but there it was, running in service.

George Behrend describes its first arrival, under its own steam and immaculately polished, at Paddington in 1957, with every level of staff up to the highest all around. Small child to mama : "What's going on". Mama in response : "I think it's a new one".

 

[Cowley]

Was the Prairie tank 4555 another loco that was preserved but used by BR on some services?

Edited to add this:

4555

4555 was built at Swindon and started its working life in 1924 at Tyseley depot. It was built with outside steam pipes, enlarged bunker and improved superheating unlike earlier members of the class…

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

I’m a little bit confused by the timeline though?

In May 1962 it was transferred to Pymouth Laira from where it was withdrawn from service in November 1963.

The engine was purchased from BR for £750 which included BR giving it a light overhaul at Swindon. Also included was a spare boiler and a van full of spare parts. The buyers were Pat Whitehouse and Pat Garland. The spare boiler was the last to be overhauled at Wolverhampton.

In August 1964 4555 was travelled under its own steam from Tyseley to Leamington Spa on a goods. After undertaking some shunting at Hatton and Warwick it arrived at Leamington with no water in its tanks – only a boiler full. Having filled the tanks the crew were instructed to provide assistance to the Pines Express from Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill via Hatton bank. This was because a diesel hauling the Pines Express had failed and the crew of the steam locomotive which replaced it (6991 Acton Burnell Hall) requested assistance from Leamington. 4555 then assisted with the train to Snow Hill including climbing the 1 in 100 Hatton bank.

In October 1965 travelled light engine down to Exeter on its way to Buckfastleigh. At Exeter it along with 3205 took over a special train hauled by Pendennis Castle as far as Totnes.

4555 worked occasionally on the Dart Valley branch and headed the last BR freight train on the line in 1962. It was purchased, in working order, for preservation straight from BR service in1965 and was the first engine to arrive on the newly preserved line in 1965.

4555 hauled the official opening train on the Dart Valley Railway with Dr Beeching aboard in 1969.

 

[30907]

Was the Prairie tank 4555 another loco that was preserved but used by BR on some services?

Apparently so.

Edited to add this ...:
"4555 worked occasionally on the Dart Valley branch and headed the last BR freight train on the line in 1962. It was purchased, in working order, for preservation straight from BR service in1965 and was the first engine to arrive on the newly preserved line in 1965."

I’m a little bit confused by the timeline though?

The highlighted date is clearly wrong, as the site concerned has a photo dated April 64 on a freight at Snow Hill but in GW livery.

 

[Cowley]

The highlighted date is clearly wrong, as the site concerned has a photo dated April 64 on a freight at Snow Hill but in GW livery.

Yes, all a bit confusing.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Who actually "owned" City of Truro, which was taken out of (the old) York museum in 1957 and used on odd duties from Didcot, not only specials but periodic use on Didcot to Winchester services, and on one occasion substituting for a failed Warship on The Bristolian . The GWR gave it to the LNER's York museum in the 1930s, I doubt it was listed in running assets at nationalisation, but there it was, running in service.

George Behrend describes its first arrival, under its own steam and immaculately polished, at Paddington in 1957, with every level of staff up to the highest all around. Small child to mama : "What's going on". Mama in response : "I think it's a new one".

City of Truro was a British Transport Commission museum piece at Nationalisation. It was returned to Western Region stock in 1957, for its period in service.

Its record sheet in the National Archives notes it could not use the number 3717 so was numbered 3440 for the duration. It also received a new (secondhand) boiler, off a 3150 2-6-2T, as part of the work to return it to active service.

 

[Taunton]

There's no particular reason why any vehicle should not run on the railway, as long as the engineers as sensible about it and don't have some procedures wonk looking for any paperwork chance to put a spanner in the works.

The first Voyager built, by Bombardier at Brugge in Belgium, was taken out when completed and run up and down the line to Ghent on test. No issue. I don't think SNCB made them go through six months of verification.

 

[Harvester]

A4 60019 was used on freight work by BR in late 1966 when kept at York, after withdrawal from stock and sold. K1 62005 also withdrawn in working order was used as a stationary boiler at ICI’s Port Clarence site in early 1968.