76084 - British Railways Standard Class 4MT

76084 at Weybourne station on the North Norfolk Railway.

 

From 1951, British Railways started to build steam locomotives to its own ‘standard’ designs, which were largely based on London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) practice but incorporating ideas and modifications from the other constituent companies, and America. The class was designed at Doncaster which was also responsible for building 25 of the 115 strong class. The remaining 90 were split between the Horwich (45) and Derby (45) Works. The last in the series, No.76114, was also the final steam engine to be constructed at the ‘Plant’ as the Doncaster works was known.

The Standard Four Mogul was primarily intended for freight use. Batches were allocated to every BR region except the Western.

The 1955 Modernisation Plan called for the phasing out of steam engines. Major withdrawals occurred during the period 1962 to 1966, and the steam era ended in early August 1968, coinciding with the Beeching Axe.

 

76084

76084 was outshopped from the Horwich Works on 28th. March 1957 at a cost of £22,082 and with an expected working life of 40 years but the Modernisation Plan of 1955 curtailed this drastically. 76084 was one of the last batch of locomotives to be built at Horwich, finishing with 76099 in November 1957.

Records show that 76084 initially went to Lower Darwen (24D) along with her sisters 76080/1/2 and 3. They were then transferred to Sutton Oak, St. Helens, before Lower Darwen closed with 76084 leaving Lower Darwen on 5th. March 1965. All but one, 76082 which was scrapped in 1966, were subsequently transferred to Springs Branch, Wigan on the closure of Sutton Oak in June 1967.

After 10 years and eight months of service, 76084 was the last BR Mogul to be withdrawn from capital stock in December 1967 and was sentenced to languish at Woodham Brother’s Scrap Yard in Barry, Wales.

In mid October 1974, five members of the Hallamshire Railway Preservation Society from Sheffield spent a working weekend at Barry with a view to a purchase, and to prevent further decay painted her with red lead primer. However, it was in 1982 that Phil Rollin concluded his negotiations to buy 76084 for £7,500 and she left Woodham’s for a new life in South Leverton near Retford, Nottinghamshire. Phil placed 76084 in his back garden and gave her a cosmetic makeover. Sadly, Phil died in the early 1990's and the future of the locomotive became a little uncertain. She was bought from Phil's daughter by the 76084 Locomotive Company Limited and moved to Morpeth in Northumberland.

76084 was returned to steam in May 2013 and to traffic in July 2013 after a 16 year restoration programme. One of only four of this class to be restored, 111 having been scrapped, 76084 is Mainline Certified and has a boiler ticket that expires in 2023.

 

Engine number: 76084

Owner: 76084 Loco Company

Designer: Robert Riddles

Builder: British Railways Horwich Works

Build completion: 28th. March 1957

Operator: British Railways

Withdrawn date: December 1967

Power class: 4MT

Configuration: 2-6-0

Gauge: 4 ft. 8.5 in. (1.43 m)

Length: 60 ft. (18.29 m)

Width: 8 ft. 9.5 in. (2.68 m)

Height: 13 ft. (3.96 m)

Locomotive weight: 59.75 tons

Leading wheel diameter: 3 ft. (0.914 m)

Driving wheel diameter: 5 ft. 3 in. (1.6 m)

Locomotive axle load: 16.95 tons

Tender type attached: BR2A

BR2A weight: 42.15 tons

BR2A coal capacity: 6 tons

BR2A water capacity: 3,500 gal. (16,910 litres)

Firegrate area: 23 sq. ft. (2.1 m2)

Boiler: BR7

Boiler pressure: 225 psi (15.51 bar)

Heating surface: 1,075 sq. ft. (99.9 m2)

 

Done