Heroic Efforts by 76084

As 76084 approaches her main line debut, details of which are scant at present, a discussion has begun on how many coaches can a Class 4 locomotive haul. In the wider main line field there have been instances of late where even large Class 7 locos have come to grief and stalled due to combinations of circumstances. So it is important to establish 76084's load capabilities.

And so following the revelation that an article about 76084 appeared in a 2012 edition of Back Track magazine as discussed on the main website here, I set to to find myself a copy. I am something of a black hole when it comes to anything 76084 just swallowing up any titbits of information and always wanting to have the original magazine in my collection if 76084 is mentioned certainly if that mention is about British Railways days.

The article in question was actually revisited in a recent edition of the Keithley and Worth Valley Railway's house magazine 'Push & Pull' which brought it to the attention of several 76084 Loco Co Ltd shareholders who independently let me know about it. The author of the KWVR article also a 76084 shareholder sent me the text which allowed me to put the story on the main website.

So what do you think our example of a 'Pocket Rocket' can haul comfortably? 6 or 7 perhaps.

It's my personal opinion that again a certain set of circumstances came together in 1957 that really put 76084 to the test but was it? The BR Standard 4 2-6-0s were new to the area in 1957. Could it be that enquiring minds, possibly from the local Operating Department, wanted to see just what such a loco could achieve prior to accepting a batch into their fleet? 

Going back to the original article I searched hard for a copy of the relevant Back Track and eventually found one on eBay. Having paid for it the vender then informed me he hadn't kept his records up to date and the particular issue was no longer in stock. But the vender was one of the good sort and promised to source one for me and he DID. Ironically from Ingrow on the KWVR.

Now I'm happy on two counts. I know exactly what a BR Standard 4 can achieve and I've got the article in my collection as a record.

If you find anything about 76084 out there please do let me know about it - I do love these quests.

Wet Saturday Shopping

I moved house 4 years ago and had to make some sacrifices when it came to my collection of books, especially those to do with railways. It went further – I had to promise not to buy any more as our new home is short on storage and bookshelves.

I’ve also known for some time that railway books in particular do not retain their value as the secondhand market for such items is almost none existent.

The problem is I cannot pass a secondhand book shop without buying something railway related. When I do buy a railway book it has to fit my criteria which is:

1. Anything to do with 76084
2. Anything to do with BR Standards
3. Anything to do with Motive Power Depots

So today we visited a large ‘antiques centre’ and I was overwhelmed with the number of railway books I found without really looking hard. Usually at such places I race ahead whilst my dear wife devours each stall. Today it was the opposite. I started looking through collections of photographs which really is time consuming in the hope of seeing anything that fits my criteria.

I came to one stall and a book called ‘BRITISH RAILWAYS Engine Sheds – London Midland Matters’ by Chris Hawkins, John Hooper and George Reeve which only ticks my third box took my fancy. I flicked through the pages as you do and thought this could be interesting so carried it round for the next 2 plus hours (lunch was in there somewhere). I found a limited edition OO gauge bus for my 1960’s steam/diesel crossover layout and was content to leave the establishment with 2 purchases.

As I drank the obligatory brew on arriving home I thumbed through the book. Being mildly dyslexic I had a little difficulty with the Times New Roman typeface (a well known fact which also goes to explain why this blog is produced in something else). I had no difficulty, however when arriving at page 85 on recognising the Midland Coaling Stage of Hellified Shed nor the locomotive posing by it. To my complete surprise and delight it was 76084. The photograph was taken by a T J Edgington in 1961. Interestingly, 76084 has only 2 Overhead Wires Warning flashes on her front steps.

Going back to my criteria for railway book buying two boxes are now ticked and in the words of the prophet Meatloaf ‘2 out of 3 ain’t bad’. This new book will be added to my collection of all things 76084/Lower Darwen.

I’ve yet to put the bus on my layout – that will have to wait till another time.