5/12/07

Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48173 arrives at the CVR having been purchased by Director Greg Wilson.

The Tender (inset bottom left) is originally from Stanier 8F 48305 which visited the CVR in 2006.
The other Tender (inset) which has been associated 48173 still bears the number 44422.
Coincidentally the 1927 built Class 4F loco 44422 was the first resident operational engine on the CVR.

27/11/07

The Story of a Stanier 8F Locomotive.

In June 1943 a spanking new locomotive emerged from the Crewe locomotive works. One of a total build of 852 and costing £6793, Stanier 8F 2-8-0, ‘8173’ entered service at Willesden, shed ‘1A’, for the LMS. Initial duties were heavy goods work up to Toton (Nottingham) together with inter- regional transfer freights via the West London Line.

In February 1948 she was allocated to ‘26A’ Newton Heath in Manchester, but in December of the following year was transferred to ‘2A’ Rugby where it was to receive its BR number ‘48173’ a few months later.

Rugby shed had a wide range of duties for ‘48173’ including up and down the West Coast Main line; into the Eastern Region to Market Harborough, Peterborough, Wellingborough and Northampton. Outings to the  South extended to Banbury, Oxford, Leighton Buzzard and Bletchley. In June 1957 she was recorded carrying out shunting duties in Dunstable yard. Four day rosters also saw her operating to Chester and Birkenhead with through freights and mineral workings

January 1965, ‘48173’ was moved to ‘6B,’ Mold Junction (Chester), but this was a brief stay as withdrawal came in July 1965 after only 22 years in service.

Moved to Woodham Brothers Yard at Barry, South Wales she was scheduled to be broken up. Thankfully, due to the increasing countrywide interest in rescuing steam locomotives she was spared. She did, however. sit there lifeless, soulless, unmoved and rusting away for 23 years. 

Salvation came in December 1987, when, at the age of 44 she was purchased by the Avon Valley Railway and became the 200th locomotive to be rescued from the Barry scrap yard. She was moved to the AVR Bitton headquarters in September the following year, 1988.

Restoration at that time was yet to evade her, however. Other restoration projects for many reasons took priority at the Avon Valley Railway.

‘48173’ has now been purchased by a Director of the CVR. Its arrival at our railway was scheduled for the 22nd November with the initial steps in a long restoration programme planned to commence in January 2008. Unfortunately, due to the 42 years of rust collection giving problems with the pony truck, delivery will be delayed. The Fowler tender, originally attached to long time Churnet Valley Railway resident 4F, ‘44422’ and bought from Barry along with ‘48173’ arrived at the CVR on 22nd November.

The 8F tender arrives at the railway

16/11/07

8F, 48173, COMES to the CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY

8F, 48173, has been purchased by a director of the Churnet Valley Railway following the failed purchase by another prospective customer. Some separated parts of the loco should be arriving on Saturday 10th November, with the locomotive and tender (Fowler) following within the next two weeks. The initial stages of a long restoration are planned to commence in the New Year. The locomotive is missing many parts and an appeal is being made to anyone with suitable 8F items for sale and/or the whereabouts of any 8F spares to get in contact..