Taken 26/03/11: The ‘Dukedog' is in fact waiting to come off shed to top and tail the 09.45 from Alton on to Alresford with fellow GWR 4-4-0 ‘City of Truro’ as train engine. Built between 1936 and 1939 at Swindon, the 30 ‘Dukedogs’ amalgamated the frames of a Bulldog with the boiler of a Duke. Originally numbered 3200 to 3228 they were allocated the names of Earls. This was a short lived practice as the names were re-appropriated to Caste class locos and No. 3217 never carried a name in GWR/BR(WR) service. Associated with the Cambrian lines, the class survived until 1960 when No.3217, by then renumbered No. 9017 was preserved. Whilst the Bluebell may not now seem a logical choice, it was arguably one of the few options available at that time and the loco has now resided in Sussex for over 50 years, longer than it spent in revenue earning service.
Tags: Mid-Hants Railway 9017 3217 Dukedog Earl of Berkeley
Taken 26/03/11: Whilst three visiting GWR locos were in action during the gala, Pete Waterman's GWR 5205 2-8-0T remained on shed. The tank is approaching the end of its current ticket and it will be interesting to see what the future holds, as it appears to have been a popular visitor to Hampshire.
Tags: Mid-Hants Railway 45XX 5205 5224 2-8-0T
Taken 26/03/11: Whilst the MH-R services were operating with eight locos in steam, GWR No. 5224 was in steam in Ropley yard with the public allowed to visit the footplate.
Tags: Mid-Hants Railway 45XX 5224 5205 2-8-0T
Taken 26/03/11: Inevitably it is the question of whether or not ‘City of Truro’ did, or did not, break the 100mh barrier in 1904 with the Plymouth to Paddington ‘Ocean Mail’ at Whiteball Summit that led to it being preserved. All of which rather overlooks that this is a classic Churchwood design from a time when the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement dominated passenger loco design. Built at Swindon in 1903, No. 3440 was perhaps unusual in being double framed. The loco was part of a batch of 10 that formed a 20 strong class. A rebuild in 1912 saw the loco renumbered No. 3717 and the loco fitted with a superheater. This changed its appearance quite noticeably, as it gained a longer smokebox and in 1915 piston vales replaced the original slide valves. According to Wikipedia ‘City of Truro’ was “… withdrawn in 1931, after the directors of the GWR had refused to preserve the engine at the company's expense, donated to the LNER, being sent from Swindon on 20 March 1931 and was subsequently displayed at the new museum in York. During World War 2 York was considered to be a likely bombing target so the locomotive was evacuated to the small engine shed at Sprouston station (near Kelso) on the Tweedmouth to St Boswells line in the Scottish Borders.”
O.S. Nock* takes up the story in that in 1957 “… put into full working order at Swindon … and looking gorgeous she made many special excursions”. A second withdrawal occurred in 1961 and the locos second period of incarceration was in the GWR Museum in 1962 at Swindon until 1984, when she was restored for the GWR's 150th anniversary celebrations the following year. After that she returned to the York from where she was occasionally used on main line outings. The latest restoration to full working order, initiated by Steam Railway magazine, was undertaken in 2004 to mark the 100th anniversary of the record-breaking run. Modern safety requirements have meant ‘City of Truro’ no longer operates on the main-line, but from a base on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, the 4-4-0 often visits other preserved lines, in this instance the 2011 MH-R Spring Steam Gala.
*Locomotives of the 20th Century - O.S. Nock
Tags: City of Truro
Taken 26/03/11: Realistically the M-HR could stage an impressive gala just using its resident locos. Watched by a gallery of photographers, 'Lord Nelson' restarts the 10:05 Alreford to Alton service from Ropley.