GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Queens Head Yard: gwrqhy1992

GWR 45xx Class No 4555 is seen resplendent in its preserved form whilst at the head of a down short Type 9 service on 20th July 1964.

45xx class (preserved) no. 4555. Queen's Head. 20 July 1964 - R Postill 4500 4555 4555 0 2-6-2T Swindon Works Lot 22 Sep 1924 Nov 1963 83D Plymouth Laira Preserved @ Paignton & Dartmouth Rly Intact

A West Country-based engine, built by the GWR in Swindon in 1924, No 4555 worked occasionally on our branch and headed the last BR freight train on the line in 1962. She was purchased for preservation straight from BR service in 1965 and was the first engine to arrive on the newly preserved line in 1965, closely followed by No 3205. She was a very regular performer on our line in the early days when it was called the Dart Valley Railway, hauling the official opening train with Dr Beeching aboard in 1969. When the then owners of our line purchased the Paignton to Dartmouth line in 1973, 4555 was one of the locomotives transferred over there to work what was then known as the Torbay Steam Railway, where she remains to this day. It is one only three of the 45xx class locomotives to have survived into preservation. The others, Nos 4561 and 4566, are on the West Somerset Railway and Severn Valley Railway respectively.

Robert Ferris

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