Catch-up time

Well it's been a while since I last blogged!! So here is a bit of an update on transport things I have seen and done, since Jan 2012.

Feb 14th 2012 at Ropley on Mid-Hants Railway.

British Railways Standard Class 9F - No. 92212, built in 1959 in Swindon, 2-10-0 wheel arrangement, operated in  Southern, Western, Eastern, Midland, Scottish regions of BR. Designed for BR by Robert Riddles.  The 9F’s were the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for BR during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight trains over long distances.  It was one of the most powerful locomotive types ever constructed in Britain and successfully performed its intended duties. The total number built was 251, production being shared between Swindon (53) and Crewe Works (198).  The last of the class, 92220 Evening Star, was the final steam locomotive to be built by BR, in 1960.   Withdrawals began in 1964, with the final locomotives removed from service in 1968.  Several examples have survived into the preservation era in varying states of repair, including Evening Star.

Construction work continues on the old Kings Cross (Harry Potter) bridge. That once spanned the platforms at Kings Cross station.The bridge will connect the upper car park area, to the yard and the new carriage shed gallery viewing area.

   
LMS 45379 is one of the successful “Black Five” 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives designed by William Stanier.  Built by Armstrong Whitworth of Newcastle in July 1937 , 842 of this class were built . 45379 was operated by BR in the Midland and Scottish regions, it was moved to Willesden in 1964 from where it was withdrawn in the summer of 1965 going to Barry scrap yard later that year. In 1974  45379 was bought for restoration on the Avon Valley Railway, later going to The Great Central Railway. It was bought from there by MHRPS coming to Alresford on 1st March 2002.

British Railways Standard Class 4MT - No. 75079, as can be seen this loco is very much under restoration. 75079 is a BR standard Class 4 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive built at Swindon in January 1956, one of a batch built 80 for the Southern Region.The loco was withdrawn in 1966 and sent to Barry scrap yard, where it stayed until 1982. When it was bought by Plymouth City Council and restoration started at the Plym Valley Railway. In 2007 MHRPS bought the loco and restoration is now (2012) in progress.