BR standard class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell
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70013 Oliver Cromwell is a British Railways standard class 7 (also known as the Britannia class) preserved steam locomotive. The locomotive is notable as one of four steam locomotives to work the last steam railtour on British Rail (BR) in 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban.[1]
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[edit] Career
One of 55 of her class, Oliver Cromwell was built at Crewe Works, being completed on 30 May 1951. Initially allocated to Norwich Crown Point depot, she remained there until 1963 when she was transferred to Carlisle Kingmoor TMD. Steam in East Anglia ended in 1965, after which the north-west of England became the steam locomotive's last stand. On 3 October 1967 she entered Crewe Works and became the last BR-owned steam locomotive to undergo routine heavy overhaul. She was selected to operate the last steam passenger train prior to the abolition of steam traction and in the summer of 1968 Oliver Cromwell hauled several specials, culminating in the Fifteen Guinea Special which was hauled between Manchester Victoria and Carlisle of 11 August that year.[2]
[edit] Preservation
Oliver Cromwell became part of the National Railway Museum's National Collection immediately after the end of the Fifteen Guinea Special[2] (70000 Britannia (which was later preserved privately) had previously been earmarked for this move). Despite a steam ban after the 11 August 1968, 70013 moved under her own steam on 12 August to her old shed at Norwich, and then on 13 August to Diss where she was transported to Bressingham Steam & Gardens. At Bressingham, she was in service to provide footplate rides till the 1980s, before retiring into the museum exhibition.
In 2004, it was announced that Oliver Cromwell would be restored back to main line standard in preparation for the 40th anniversary of the end of steam[3]. The locomotive was overhauled at the Great Central Railway with a view to hauling trains both on the Great Central and specials on the main line, and on the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of May, 2008, the locomotive hauled its first revenue earning passenger services on the 8 - mile route. The locomotive made an appearance at the National Railway Museum's 1968 and All That event celebrating 40 years since the end of steam[1]. The first mainline passenger charter for 70013 since 1968 is currently scheduled for 12th July 2008 from Norwich to York[4].
[edit] References
- ^ a b NRM 1968 - Whats On. Accessed 11 April 2008.
- ^ a b ANON (May 2008). "1968 and All That". Railway Magazine 154 1285: 18-19
- ^ NRM Press Release Created May 2004. Accesses 13 April 2008.
- ^ UK Steam Info, 2008 tours. Created 10 April 2008. Accessed 11 April 2008.
