7027 Thornbury Castle

4150 initially went to the Dean Forest Railway with Erlestoke Manor. Both moved to the SVR some time later.

 

That's true Robin - I don't think either stayed at DFR for very long

https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/39976828183/in/photolist-23UBGfk

 

Looking at that picture its sad to see that 4150 still hasn't steamed. She looks reasonably complete there.

 

this is 7027 in 1972. I would hope that the conn rods were saved too?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13120...o4f-T1NutK-aQnBVg-dPH7Wk-ctNjTu-ctMX8G-ctP5ku

 

The manor moved on to the Dowty Railway Centre at Ashchurch. 4150 remained at Parkend until moving to Bewdley in January 1978.

You are right on the 5 locos moving on the same day, as described in SVR News at the time. A bit of trivia from the same article, also in the convoy was an L.M.S. Stanier welded tender which ran with 44888 until separated at Tyseley. The loco went to Cashmore's at Great Bridge for cutting up. SVR members had an option to purchase it but were unsuccessful, so 44888 became the last steam engine cut up at Great Bridge. Only the cab fittings were saved, mostly for use on 46521.

But we digress (as ususal)...

 

I like digressions though when you learn something new. I wasn't aware about the tender from 44888

 

The 3500g. tender behind 5051 was a replacement for 7808 wasn't it? 5322 also went by rail to Caerphilly as did 5900 to Didcot.
Ray.

 

The first part of any restoration is always easy, taking it apart. 4150 is not the only loco where it all went wrong after that. Anyway, as a (small) shareholder in 4150, I hope we are finally close to putting things right.

 

Further digressions........
Most of the early departures were by rail starting with 4F 43924 that went to K&WVR via Hereford in September 1968.
1970 : 7F 53808 stopped over at Bristol Bath Road open day en-route to Radstock.
4588 & 4983(4965) were towed to Gloucester where they split and 4588 is towed onto Bristol St. Phillips Marsh whilst the Hall moves to Tyseley via Statford-on-Avon. The prairie is then joined with 4588 already at Bristol both for towing onto Totnes.
1971 : 80079 (SVR) and 5572 (Taunton) are towed out of Woodhams.
1975 : 2857 & 7325 are towed to Bewdley by Class 25
The last two locos towed by rail from Woodhams were 3822 & 5029 to Didcot in 1976

 

Did 3822 and 5029 leave together, or were they separate? I was under the impression they had gone together, but a quick look online suggests that the 38 left in March and Nunney in May. There were some issues with hot boxes on Nunney, so I'm wondering if it got dumped off while en route. A few years ago GWS legend John Minchin gave a slideshow which documented the 38's trip; John had been on the footplate for most, if not all of the journey, including through the Severn Tunnel in pitch black. Unfortunately the presence of a number of beers that evening has clouded my memory with regard to what happened with 5029!

Yes the tender was a replacement for 7808. There's some footage of the 53's move here (complete with fire..!):

 

Its sad really, those sort of videos bring out the sentimental fool in me and I get quite emotional seeing such locomotive escaping the scrap line and being 'safe'!

Sad to think its already 6 years since 5322 last steamed. And 13 since 5051

 

I believe they left together in May 1976 although I'm not clear whether they arrived separately though?

 

4150 left Barry with 7812 around May(?) 1974. Both were towed at some speed as far as Parkend & were on display at A DFR open day the following weekend. 7812 was then moved on to Dowty RPS at Ashchurch & in May 1976 a further move took the loco & support vehicles to Bewdley SVR where it was initially restored to working order. 4150 lingered at Parkend Marsh Sidings following later in 1979. All these moves were by rail. 4141 was taken to Hampton Loade where some work was undertaken. The owner then sold it on incomplete some years later.

 

31618 also made the long trip back to the south east early on.
4588 went to Swindon Works BREL where it was put back in working order under contract. It then appeared as a surprise in steam at a Bristol Bath Road Depot Open day before heading west towed in steam.

 

1618 was the second loco out of Barry, in 1969. As I understand, it was moved by rail, initially to a site near New Hythe in Kent. Later it moved to the nascent KESR where the restoration was completed, then to the Bluebell in 1977.

Tom

 

In those days apparently nobody had to worry about gauging.

 

42968, 46521 and 75069 were all transported from Barry to the SVR by rail. If my memory serves me correctly I think that 46512 also came by rail to Bewdley where some initial cosmetic restoration work was carried out prior to its trip to the Strathspey Railway.

Andy

 

I think there's some footage on 'A fine feeling for steam' on iPlayer of 46512 having work done on it at Bridgnorth. Didn't Mr Watkinson have a farm in Worcstershire?

 

Thank you very much for posting that clip as at around 5.2 minutes in you can see Cardiff Queens Street Station with the overall roof, and later Heath Box, and the Rhymney Works at Caerphilly. I thought Heath Box was on the west side just after the junction where the Whitchurch and District MES had their club site, but the film indicates otherwise.

Very interesting.

Cheers,

Julian