BR standard class 5 73129
Encyclopedia
British Railways Standard Class 5
No. 73129 is a preserved British steam locomotive. It is the only surviving Standard Class 5 built by British Railways which was fitted with Caprotti valve gear
.
in August 1956. It was one of 30 built fitted with Caprotti valve gear
. Originally allocated at Shrewsbury Shed (which required the fitting of GWR
style lamp brackets), it was later transferred to Patricroft Shed (near Manchester) in 1958. It spent the rest of its working life there until it was stored at Patricroft from June to November 1967. It was officially withdrawn from traffic on 2 December 1967.
During 73129's working life, it covered roughly 198,359 miles - 35,814 of those in 1957.
.
In 1972, 73129 was purchased by the Midland Railway Project Group. Preparation work for the locomotives transportation to Butterley
was undertaken at Woodham Brothers with small working parties. As well as this many spare parts were acquired from other locomotives, especially 73129's neighbour at Barry, 73096, which is now preserved. Parts were also taken from the only other remaining Caprotti valve gear
ed locomotive at Woodham Brothers, 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" which is also, now preserved.
Whilst stored at Woodham Brothers, the original BR1B tender (1417) was sold to a steel works for conversion into an ingot carrier. 73129 currently has tender number 1043. It is of the same BR1B type, but has no water pick-up apparatus, as it was from a Southern Region
based engine 75079
and there was no need for the apparatus.
number (D)157 took 73129 on part of its journey to Derby Works
. The convoy also included 7819 "Hinton Manor"
, 4141 and 5164
, 4930 "Hagley Hall"
, a Stanier 4000 gallon tender and a brake van.
Assistance out of Woodham Brothers scrapyard was given by a Class 37
diesel (or English Electric
Type 3 as they were known) 6978. At Kidderminster
whilst dropping off the locomotives for the Severn Valley Railway
the motive power was changed to a Class 25
(or Sulzer
Type 2 7655.
73129 was left at Derby Works
as a temporary home. By early 1975, 73129 along with Jinty
16440 (47357) had arrived at Butterley.
, in 1975 although work began to tail off in around 1985.
Another small attempt to restart the restoration was tried in 1992 although minimal work was carried out due to lack of financial and human resources.
In late 1993, restoration began in earnest. This took over a decade. The first fire in 73129's firebox since 1967 was lit at 3.25 pm on 22 February 2004. Steam locomotives 92214
, 80098, 47357
and Peckett 1163 "Whitehead" were all in attendance, all whistling when smoke first appeared from 73129's chimney.
BR standard class 5
The British Railways Standard Class 5MT 4-6-0 was one of the standard classes of steam locomotives built by British Railways in the 1950s. 172 were built, essentially being a development of the LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 .- Background :...
No. 73129 is a preserved British steam locomotive. It is the only surviving Standard Class 5 built by British Railways which was fitted with Caprotti valve gear
Caprotti valve gear
The Caprotti valve gear is a type of steam engine valve gear invented in the early 1920's by Italian architect and engineer Arturo Caprotti. It uses camshafts and poppet valves rather than the piston valves used in other valve gear...
.
Locomotive History
73129 was outshopped from Derby WorksDerby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
in August 1956. It was one of 30 built fitted with Caprotti valve gear
Caprotti valve gear
The Caprotti valve gear is a type of steam engine valve gear invented in the early 1920's by Italian architect and engineer Arturo Caprotti. It uses camshafts and poppet valves rather than the piston valves used in other valve gear...
. Originally allocated at Shrewsbury Shed (which required the fitting of GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
style lamp brackets), it was later transferred to Patricroft Shed (near Manchester) in 1958. It spent the rest of its working life there until it was stored at Patricroft from June to November 1967. It was officially withdrawn from traffic on 2 December 1967.
During 73129's working life, it covered roughly 198,359 miles - 35,814 of those in 1957.
Barry Scrapyard
In February 1968, 73129 was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South WalesSouth Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
In 1972, 73129 was purchased by the Midland Railway Project Group. Preparation work for the locomotives transportation to Butterley
Midland Railway - Butterley
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...
was undertaken at Woodham Brothers with small working parties. As well as this many spare parts were acquired from other locomotives, especially 73129's neighbour at Barry, 73096, which is now preserved. Parts were also taken from the only other remaining Caprotti valve gear
Caprotti valve gear
The Caprotti valve gear is a type of steam engine valve gear invented in the early 1920's by Italian architect and engineer Arturo Caprotti. It uses camshafts and poppet valves rather than the piston valves used in other valve gear...
ed locomotive at Woodham Brothers, 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" which is also, now preserved.
Whilst stored at Woodham Brothers, the original BR1B tender (1417) was sold to a steel works for conversion into an ingot carrier. 73129 currently has tender number 1043. It is of the same BR1B type, but has no water pick-up apparatus, as it was from a Southern Region
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
based engine 75079
BR standard class 4 4-6-0
The British Railways Standard Class 4 4-6-0 is a class of steam locomotives, 80 of which were built during the 1950s. Six have been preserved.-Background:...
and there was no need for the apparatus.
Transportation to Butterley
On the 6 January 1973 a convoy from Barry hauled by a British Rail Class 46British Rail Class 46
The British Rail Class 46 is a class of diesel locomotive. They were built from 1961-1963 at British Railways' Derby Works and were initially numbered D138-D193. With the arrival of TOPS they were renumbered to Class 46. Fifty-six locomotives were built...
number (D)157 took 73129 on part of its journey to Derby Works
Derby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
. The convoy also included 7819 "Hinton Manor"
GWR 7800 Class
The Great Western Railway 7800 Class or Manor Class is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive. They were designed as a lighter version of the GWR Grange Class, giving them a wider Route Availability. Like the 'Granges', the 'Manors' used parts from the GWR 4300 Class Moguls but just on the first batch...
, 4141 and 5164
GWR 5101 Class
The GWR 5101 Class or Large Prairie was a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were medium-sized tank engines used for suburban and local passenger services all over the Great Western Railway system...
, 4930 "Hagley Hall"
GWR 4900 Class
The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 mixed traffic steam locomotives designed by Charles Collett. A total of 259 were built, numbered 4900–4999, 5900–5999 and 6900–6958. The LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 and LNER Thompson Class B1 both drew heavily on design features...
, a Stanier 4000 gallon tender and a brake van.
Assistance out of Woodham Brothers scrapyard was given by a Class 37
British Rail Class 37
The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
diesel (or English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
Type 3 as they were known) 6978. At Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
whilst dropping off the locomotives for the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
the motive power was changed to a Class 25
British Rail Class 25
The British Rail Class 25 diesel locomotives were also known as Sulzer Type 2 and nicknamed Rats, as it was alleged they could be seen everywhere in Britain, and hence were "as common as rats"...
(or Sulzer
Sulzer (manufacturer)
Sulzer Ltd. is a Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing firm, founded by Salomon Sulzer-Bernet in 1775 and established as Sulzer Brothers Ltd. in 1834 in Winterthur, Switzerland. Today it is a publicly owned company with international subsidiaries...
Type 2 7655.
73129 was left at Derby Works
Derby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
as a temporary home. By early 1975, 73129 along with Jinty
LMS Fowler Class 3F
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Fowler 3F 0-6-0T is a class of steam locomotive, often known as Jinty. They represent the ultimate development of the Midland Railway's six-coupled tank engines.- Introduction :...
16440 (47357) had arrived at Butterley.
Restoration
Restoration was started on a limited scale on 73129 shortly after the locomotive arrived at the then Midland Railway Centre, now Midland Railway - ButterleyMidland Railway - Butterley
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...
, in 1975 although work began to tail off in around 1985.
Another small attempt to restart the restoration was tried in 1992 although minimal work was carried out due to lack of financial and human resources.
In late 1993, restoration began in earnest. This took over a decade. The first fire in 73129's firebox since 1967 was lit at 3.25 pm on 22 February 2004. Steam locomotives 92214
BR standard class 9F
The British Railways BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 is a class of steam locomotive designed for British Railways by Robert Riddles. The Class 9F was the last in a series of standardised locomotive classes designed for British Railways during the 1950s, and was intended for use on fast, heavy freight...
, 80098, 47357
LMS Fowler Class 3F
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Fowler 3F 0-6-0T is a class of steam locomotive, often known as Jinty. They represent the ultimate development of the Midland Railway's six-coupled tank engines.- Introduction :...
and Peckett 1163 "Whitehead" were all in attendance, all whistling when smoke first appeared from 73129's chimney.