'Before and After' (3) - eleven years later - 23.10.2021
When attending my first Great Central Railway (GCR) Winter Steam Gala in January 2010, my visit also allowed access to their Loughborough Motive Power Depot and Locomotive Workshops.
Then, pictured above, LMSR Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No 45305 was still undergoing its latest major overhaul - still with its boiler removed. It successfully returned to service nine months later in October 2010.
5305 was built by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936 and survived to the last month of steam of British Railways[BR] (then numbered 45305) in August 1968. It was then sold to scrap merchants Albert Draper and Sons of Hull, who broke up 742 former BR locomotives. 45305 was to have been their 743rd and last but the scrapyard owner Albert Draper decided to save one of the yard's locos for posterity and have it restored to full running order. 45305 was chosen simply because it was the cleanest!
It's still like it now!
45305 is still owned by the Draper Family, but is now cared for by the 5305 Locomotive Association with GCR being its heritage railway base.
This collage is another fine example showing the considerable amount of excellent work undertaken by the highly skilled team between the January 2010 and October 2021.
When pictured bottom on Saturday 23rd October 2021, despite the inclement weather, this then 'Resplendent Locomotive' certainly brightened up the gloom when entering Rothley with the Ex 11.15am Loughborough Central to Leicester North passenger service during its last weekend working before its latest withdrawal.
I very much hope I will see this fine locomotive run once again during my lifetime!
'Before and After' (3) - eleven years later - 23.10.2021
When attending my first Great Central Railway (GCR) Winter Steam Gala in January 2010, my visit also allowed access to their Loughborough Motive Power Depot and Locomotive Workshops.
Then, pictured above, LMSR Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No 45305 was still undergoing its latest major overhaul - still with its boiler removed. It successfully returned to service nine months later in October 2010.
5305 was built by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936 and survived to the last month of steam of British Railways[BR] (then numbered 45305) in August 1968. It was then sold to scrap merchants Albert Draper and Sons of Hull, who broke up 742 former BR locomotives. 45305 was to have been their 743rd and last but the scrapyard owner Albert Draper decided to save one of the yard's locos for posterity and have it restored to full running order. 45305 was chosen simply because it was the cleanest!
It's still like it now!
45305 is still owned by the Draper Family, but is now cared for by the 5305 Locomotive Association with GCR being its heritage railway base.
This collage is another fine example showing the considerable amount of excellent work undertaken by the highly skilled team between the January 2010 and October 2021.
When pictured bottom on Saturday 23rd October 2021, despite the inclement weather, this then 'Resplendent Locomotive' certainly brightened up the gloom when entering Rothley with the Ex 11.15am Loughborough Central to Leicester North passenger service during its last weekend working before its latest withdrawal.
I very much hope I will see this fine locomotive run once again during my lifetime!