Swanage Railway News Gallery

Swanage Railway News Gallery - Page 4

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page (approx 20kb per image), just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank 80104 back in service after restoration

Report and photographs by Keith & Morgan

Here we see the BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank 80104 back in service on the Swanage Railway after restoration

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 Tank 80104 with Black Prince at Swanage 20/7/97

Built in March 1955 at Brighton works, and normally based at Plaistow, its final shed was Machynlleth from which it was withdrawn in July 1965, arriving at Barry Island scrapyard in January 1966. Bought by the Southern Steam Trust, the loco was displayed in the headshunt at Swanage in September 1984 after a cosmetic restoration and stayed there for a number of years. In the photograph, the headshunt can be seen occupied on 20th July 1997 by Class 9F Black Prince, while 80104 runs around for the next service to Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden.

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 80104 at Norden on 20/7/97

BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4 80104 running around at Norden on 20/7/97

The locomotive was moved to the former Swindon Works weighbridge in November 1989 where 257 Squadron was under restoration at the time. The loco was dismantled during 1990, and in January 1991 it was moved to Avon Valley Railway at Bitton returning to Swanage in 1995. 80104 travelled to Norden from Herston Works on a low-loader on 10th April 1997 and was towed down the line to Swanage shed for the remaining jobs to be completed.

Now the gleaming paintwork provides the final touch to the major rebuild. 80104 currently provides excellent service to the Swanage Railway and is very popular with the Operations Department. These two photographs show 80104 during the Steam Gala weekend of 13/14th October 1997. There is a full photo report on a separate News Page.