LMS Stanier Class 8F 8233
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LMS Stanier Class 8F No. 8233, War Department Nos. 307, and later 70307, Iranian State Railways No. 41-109, British Railways No. 48773, is a preserved British steam locomotive. It owners claim that is " possibly Britain's most travelled preserved locomotive".
[edit] Overview
Originally built in 1940 by the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow, Works No. 24607 on the orders of the War Department, which had adopted the LMS Stanier Class 8F as its own standard. However, the Fall of France saw that it was not sent to mainland Europe with the British Expeditionary Force, as originally intended. Instead, she became LMS No. 8233 and was based out of Toton, Holbeck and Westhouses sheds.
In 1941, No. 8233 was requisitoned by the War Department and sent to Persia (Iran), becoming Iranian State Railways No. 41-109. In 1944, she was converted to oil-firing. In 1948 she was at Suez, needing a new firebox, and was almost scrapped but was then returned to England in 1952 and overhauled at Derby Works. In 1954, the engine was not needed in the Middle East and went instead to the Longmoor Military Railway as WD. No. 500.
In 1957, No. 500 was taken into British Railways stocks as No. 48773. She was allocated initially to Polmadie, and was withdrawn from there in 1962. However, she was reinstated the next year and transferred to Carlisle Kingmoor. She was then transferred to Stockport (Edgeley) and Buxton (though perhaps only on paper), and then to Bolton in September 1964. With the end of steam looming, steam made its last stand in the North West, with No. 48773 being transferred to Rose Grove in July 1968. She worked her last main line train on 4 August 1968.
In 1968 she was subject to a late appeal to purchase her for preservation. She was then restored on the Severn Valley Railway.
