GWR 0-6-2T No. 6695 at Corfe Castle on Wednesday 31st August 2005
photo copyright Andrew P.M. Wright
NEWSFLASH
Vital restoration work on ex-GWR 0-6-2T No. 6695's axleboxes complete.
Click here for photos of 6695 in action at the West Somerset Gala Oct 2008
See bottom of page for links to other items.
Welcome to the new home for the Swanage Railway's 6695 Locomotive Group which
was formed in August, 1995.
Here you will find information on the work of the Group,
how to join the the group in restoration of the locomotive and how to
become a shareholder. For full details of the locomotive and details of how join the 6695 Group please
see this page and our details page by clicking here
Group History:
The 5600 Tank Fund was launched in 1977, to rescue No 6695 which was
purchased from Woodham's scrap yard, at Barry, South Wales, in 1978.
6695 was the 99th locomotive to leave Barry and moved to
the embryonic Swanage Railway, in May 1979.
The 6695 Locomotive Group was formed during 1995, to
formalise No 6695 and its affairs.
Work to restore the locomotive then began at the new Swanage
Railway facility at Herston, in Swanage, during 1996.
The majority of the work has been carried out by group
members, except in the more specialist engineering areas,
where subcontracting has been undertaken, to ensure quality repairs to meet modern day standards.
The Group today comprises over 100 part owners, providing funding and support to enable No 6695 to work again, hauling
trains on the Swanage Railway, Park and Ride facility, in the
beautiful Isle of Purbeck.
The Group would like to thank you for your support.
Class: 56XX 0-6-2T Mixed Traffic Tank Engine
Purpose: Passenger and Goods Locomotive for Heavily Graded Routes
BR Power Classification: 5MT
GWR Power Classification: D, Red
Details: Two inside cylinders 18" diameter x 26" stroke
Valve gear Stephensons. Coupled wheel diameter 4’7"
Boiler pressure 200 lbs per square inch
Weight in full working order 68tons
Tractive effort (at 85%) 25,800 lbs
Coal Capacity 3.75 tons, water 1900 gallons
Class History:
The 0-6-2 wheel arrangement was common on South Wales railways absorbed by the GWR in 1923.
The 56XX Class was urgently introduced in 1924 as a standard replacement for many of the absorbed
engines, which had become very run down. Their work in the Welsh Valleys needed
locomotives with high adhesion (track grip) rather than speed, so weight was not wasted
being spread over non-driven leading wheels. Numbers 5600 to 6649 were built at Swindon
between 1924 and 1928. Numbers 6650 to 6699, including 6695, were built by Armstrong
Whitworth at Scotswood-on-Tyne. The 56XX CLASS used a Number 2 Boiler with as many
standardised parts as possible.
6695 History:
6695 was completed at Armstrong Whitworth's
Newcastle works in October 1928 and was given works number 983. 6695 was originally
deployed to Tyseley and then in April 1929 to Leamington hauling outer suburban passenger
services from Birmingham's Snow Hill station to Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington.
56XX Class locomotives found themselves working down into Dorset and the seaside resort of
Weymouth via Westbury and Yeovil line.
In September 1934, 6695 was transferred to freight
work at Oxley near Wolverhampton and then to Wolverhampton Stafford Road in Februrary 1938
but returned to Oxley in January 1939.
At the outbreak of war in 1939, 6695 was transferred to
Swansea East Docks and spent an uneventful war until June 1947.
In June 1947, 6695 was again moved - this time to Swansea Landore and employed on local passenger and freight
work during the late 1940's and through the 1950's.
During week ending 10th June 1961 was moved to
Neath.
On 2nd November 1961, 6695 hauled the last scheduled through passenger train
from Neath General to Treherbert.
6695's next move was to Radyr during week ending 2nd November 1963.
6695 was withdrawn from service during week ending 4th July 1964, and was sold on 24th August 1964.
6695 was then despatched to Woodham's Scrapyard at Barry Island in South Wales. But 6695 was one of
the lucky ones....
Group Work Programme
Main frame rebuilding - 1996-1997
Locomotive re-wheeled - 1998
Cylinder Liner replacement - 1998
Side tank renewal - 1999-2000
Motion overhaul, replacement - 2000-2003
Reinstatement of front end - 2001
Boiler overhaul commenced - 2002
Final fitting of boiler to frames - 2003
Entry into traffic achieved -1st passenger train on 11th February 2006! (see below)
Links: 6695 News items on the BBC news website
Man who saved loco becomes driver (2 photos)
- 15/03/06
Saved loco pulls passengers again (2 photos)
- 13/02/06
Links: Links to relevant 6695 News items on the Swanage Railway main website
6695 back in service at West Somerset 2008 Gala (20 photos)
- 11/10/08
6695 rewheeling and boiler test at Williton Sept 2008 (16 photos)
- 19/09/08
Photo Report and update on 6695's axleboxes July 2008 (12 photos)
- 27/07/08
Photo Report and update on 6695's axleboxes April 2008 (12 photos)
- 18/04/08
Photo Report on 6695 at Spa Valley September 2007 (11 photos)
- 14/01/08
Vital restoration work on 6695's axleboxes(13 photos)
-11/01/08
Loco No. 6695's visit to the East Somerset Railway - April 2007 (120 photos)
- 06/05/07
Photo report from the footplate of No. 6695 17th Feb 2007 (120 photos)
- 24/02/07
Pete Duncalfe at the controls of 6695 on 11th March 2006 (60 photos)
- 12/03/06
Restored loco No. 6695's 1st passenger train on 11th Feb 2006 (100 photos)
- 15/01/06
Photos of No. 6695 at Swanage Railway's Gala Sept 2005 (26 photos)
- 17/09/05
6695 to star at Swanage Railway's Steam Gala 10/11 Sept 2005 (3 photos)
- 05/09/05
A working life - No. 6695’s history with GWR and BR (3 photos)
- 05/09/05
6695 Returns in triumph! (150 photos)
- 05/09/05
6695's Boiler steams for the first time since the 1960's (48 photos)
- 13/04/05
6695 passes Hydraulic Test - urgent appeal for funds continues (1 photo)
- 01/04/05
Urgent appeal for funds to complete 6695's overhaul. (2 photos)
- 20/02/05
Progress on locomotive no. 6695 at Herston Works (42 photos)
- 16/01/05
Locomotive Lust in the Dust - 6695 at the Fair 2002
- 3rd Sept 2002
Swanage Railway at the Great Dorset Steam Fair 2002
- 3rd Sept 2002
Progress on GWR Taffy Tank No. 6695 at Herston Works
- 17th Feb 2002
6695 Locomotive Group Major Progress Report
- 30th March 1998
|
