LAST BRITISH RAIL STEAM TRAIN LOCOMOTIVE FROM 1968 LEAVES SWANAGE & RETURNS TO THE MAIN LINE - Friday 21st October, 2011

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - 22 October 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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The Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 40 photos taken on Friday 21st, 2011. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view all the photos.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' at Corfe Castle station with the historic ruins of Corfe Castle in the background on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

By Andrew P.M. Wright.

A mighty locomotive that made history when it hauled the first ever train from London's Euston station down to Corfe Castle and Swanage - after pulling the last steam train on British Rail during the summer of 1968 - has left the Isle of Purbeck and returned to the main line.

The crew of Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' on Friday 21st October 2011 shortly before departure from Swanage at 9am. The driver (left) was Mel Cox (SR operations manager and part-time West Coast Railways driver) with fireman Charlie Barber (right). Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

British Railways Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' departed Swanage at 9am on Friday, 21st October 2011, after arriving in Swanage just after 2pm on Saturday, 15th October 2011, with the 11-coach 'Swanage Belle' railtour from Euston station in London.

Driven from Swanage back to Bristol Barton Hill - which is near Bristol Temple Meads station - by Mel Cox and fireman Charlie Barber, the Britannia passed the ruins of Corfe Castle - the fortress that Parliamentary forces, led by Oliver Cromwell, captured and destroyed during the English Civil War of the 17th century.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' leaves Swanage at 9am on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Back in 1968, 'Oliver Cromwell' was selected as one of four locomotives to haul British Rail's last steam passenger train - the 'Fifteen Guinea Special' - prior to the abolition of steam traction in Britain and 'Oliver Cromwell ' hauled the Manchester to Carlisle leg of this last trip on 11 August, 1968.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' passes through Corfe Castle station en route to Wareham on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

One of 55 similar engines built by British Railways, No. 70013 was outshopped from Crewe Works on 30 May, 1951, and allocated initially to Norwich's Thorpe locomotive depot on British Railways' Eastern Region - hauling express trains between London and Norwich.

Sometimes, these locomotives were allocated two return trips a day which totalled 460 miles. 'Oliver Cromwell' remained at Norwich until September 1961 - when diesels took over these duties - and ran 698,000 miles in just over ten years.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' crosses the River Frome viaduct en route to Wareham on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Subsequently, No. 70013 was based for some two years at the former March Depot in Cambridgeshire. In December 1963, the 'Oliver Cromwell' was transferred to Carlisle Kingmoor Depot on British Railways' London Midland Region where it was primarily rostered for freight, parcels and occasional passenger trains before being withdrawn in August, 1968.

Saved from the cutting torch during the 1960s, 'Oliver Cromwell' is currently owned by the National Railway Museum and is maintained and operated by the 5305 Locomotive Association.

The historic 4-6-2 wheel arrangement steam locomotive is 67 feet long and weighs 143 tons. Built in the year of the optimistic and forward looking Festival of Britain on London's South Bank, 'Oliver Cromwell' has three sets of driving wheels six feet two inches in diameter.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' arrives at Wareham station on the main line on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

The Britannia class steam locomotive has a boiler pressure of 250 pounds per square inch, a tractive effort of 32,150 pounds while it carries seven tons of coal and 4,250 gallons of water in its huge tender.

Swanage Railway service details are available from the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 - or by following the links in the index on the left of this page.

Britannia class No. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' departs Wareham station on Friday 21st October 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

To see the full set of photos from 21st October 2011, please scroll down the page.

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit