LMS 5MT Black 5 44806
Encyclopedia
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0
No. 44806 is a preserved British steam locomotive
. It was built at Derby
in 1944.
" collection at Carnforth
, housed in the same loco depot where steam's final fires had been dropped only recently before. She fortunately avoided the usual years of neglect and parts-stripping at Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
.
In preservation she was also unusually well-travelled between museums and lines, although staying in the North West of England. Some years were spent based in Accrington
, with working excursions to a planned preserved line at Helmshore
. Although these exact plans never quite came to fruition after the station's closure in 1972, most of the line survived as what is now the East Lancashire Railway
.
In 1973, 44806 was based for a short time at the newly-reopened Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
, as their largest and only tender engine. Operating a large tender engine was difficult though. Whilst at Haverthwaite, 44806 was adopted by the ITV children's TV series Magpie
and named "Magpie". The Magpie programme was always in competition with the BBC's comparable Blue Peter
, who had earlier adopted the LNER A2 Peppercorn 532 Blue Peter, conveniently built under that name.
Shortly after this, a crack was found in the boiler, in the outer firebox. Haverthwaite did not have the workshop facilities for an engine of this length or weight, so she was moved yet again, this time to "Steamport" in Southport
. These were busy times for the British steam preservation movement, with many new projects and scrapyard rescues all competing for attention, time and money. As a result, 'Magpie' languished. In 1983, with a wind-down of Steamport owing to pressure over the site, Magpie moved to Manchester and the Museum of Science and Industry
, as a purely static exhibit.
, where repair work began. This work took almost three years to complete, with a return to steam on 15 September 1995. She worked on the Llangollen for nearly ten years, first back as 4806 in black LMS livery with red lining, then once again as 44806 wearing the BR "ferret and a dartboard" tender badges with red and white lining.
Since her initial preservation, 44806 had been privately owned by one man, Ken Aldcroft. Aldcroft died in 2003, 44806 passing to his daughter Ms Renee Wyatt. To commemorate Aldcroft's 35 years of preservation (he owned her for ten years more than the original owners), she was re-named Kenneth Aldcroft.
. the 40th anniversary of the end of British Railways steam, and of 44806's own preservation.
LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0
The London Midland and Scottish Railway's Class 5 4-6-0, almost universally known as the Black Five, is a class of steam locomotive. It was introduced by William Stanier in 1934 and 842 were built between then and 1951...
No. 44806 is a preserved British steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. It was built at Derby
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:...
in 1944.
Service history
Numbered 4806 by the LMS, after nationalisation in 1948, she had 40000 added to her number under British Railways. 44806 was one of the last locomotives to be withdrawn from service, surviving until 1968, the last year of steam on British Railways steam.| Location | Shed code | From |
|---|---|---|
| Toton | 18A | 15 July 1944 |
| Leicester | 15C | 28 April 1948 |
| Nottingham | 16A | 9 December 1956 |
| Kentish Town | 14B | 15 December 1956 |
| Nottingham | 16A | 18 October 1957 |
| Burton | 17B | 12 July 1964 |
| Speke Junction | 8C | 26 June 1967 |
| Lostock Hall Lostock Hall Lostock Hall is a small suburban village within the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England. It is located on the south side of the River Ribble, some south of Preston and north of Leyland. It is bordered on its southeastern side by the interchange for the M6, M61 and M65 motorways... |
10D | 30 March 1968 |
Preservation
44806 was an early candidate for preservation, moving directly from BR to the "SteamtownSteamtown (Carnforth)
This was a visitor attraction open to the public on the site of the old 10A locomotive depot, wagon works and west side sidings at Carnforth in Lancashire...
" collection at Carnforth
Carnforth
- References :...
, housed in the same loco depot where steam's final fires had been dropped only recently before. She fortunately avoided the usual years of neglect and parts-stripping at Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
South 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 preservation she was also unusually well-travelled between museums and lines, although staying in the North West of England. Some years were spent based in Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
, with working excursions to a planned preserved line at Helmshore
Helmshore
Helmshore is a village in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, England. It is situated south of Haslingden, broadly between the A56 and the B6235, approximately 16 miles north of Manchester.- Early history :...
. Although these exact plans never quite came to fruition after the station's closure in 1972, most of the line survived as what is now the East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
.
In 1973, 44806 was based for a short time at the newly-reopened Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway is a heritage railway in Cumbria, England.-Location:The L&HR runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere...
, as their largest and only tender engine. Operating a large tender engine was difficult though. Whilst at Haverthwaite, 44806 was adopted by the ITV children's TV series Magpie
Magpie (TV series)
Magpie was a children's television programme shown on ITV from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. It was a magazine format show intended to compete with the BBC's Blue Peter, but attempted to be more "hip", focusing more on popular culture...
and named "Magpie". The Magpie programme was always in competition with the BBC's comparable Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, who had earlier adopted the LNER A2 Peppercorn 532 Blue Peter, conveniently built under that name.
Shortly after this, a crack was found in the boiler, in the outer firebox. Haverthwaite did not have the workshop facilities for an engine of this length or weight, so she was moved yet again, this time to "Steamport" in Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
. These were busy times for the British steam preservation movement, with many new projects and scrapyard rescues all competing for attention, time and money. As a result, 'Magpie' languished. In 1983, with a wind-down of Steamport owing to pressure over the site, Magpie moved to Manchester and the Museum of Science and Industry
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, England, is a large museum devoted to the development of science, technology, and industry with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields...
, as a purely static exhibit.
Return to steam
In 1993, 44806 and her 20-year old firebox crack travelled to the Llangollen RailwayLlangollen Railway
The Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire, Wales, which operates between Llangollen and Carrog; at long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of...
, where repair work began. This work took almost three years to complete, with a return to steam on 15 September 1995. She worked on the Llangollen for nearly ten years, first back as 4806 in black LMS livery with red lining, then once again as 44806 wearing the BR "ferret and a dartboard" tender badges with red and white lining.
Return to steam again
Expiry of her 10 year boiler certificate prompted another rebuild. The work this time was less serious, being mostly wear items such as boiler tubes, firebox stays and worn tyres, but any work on engines of this size is a major undertaking. The work was completed successfully and she returned to steam on 29 August 2007 and was back in service on 14 September. Her new livery was again BR period, but this time in unlined gloss black.Since her initial preservation, 44806 had been privately owned by one man, Ken Aldcroft. Aldcroft died in 2003, 44806 passing to his daughter Ms Renee Wyatt. To commemorate Aldcroft's 35 years of preservation (he owned her for ten years more than the original owners), she was re-named Kenneth Aldcroft.
Current status
44806 Kenneth Aldcroft is now based and working at the Llangollen RailwayLlangollen Railway
The Llangollen Railway is a volunteer-run preserved railway in Denbighshire, Wales, which operates between Llangollen and Carrog; at long, it is the longest preserved standard gauge line in Wales and operates daily in Summer as well as weekends throughout the Winter months using a wide variety of...
. the 40th anniversary of the end of British Railways steam, and of 44806's own preservation.