Epping Ongar Railway-based GWR ‘Hall’ No. 4953 Pitchford Hall is back in steam after overhaul, and carrying a livery never before seen on one of the Collett 4-6-0s in the preservation era.
Roger Wright’s ‘Hall’ caught many by surprise when it arrived at the Great Central Railway (GCR) for testing on October 2 sporting 1950s British Railways lined black livery with red-backed name and cabside number plates.
The gleaming locomotive was fresh from a £400,000-plus overhaul at Locomotive Maintenance Services of Loughborough, and subsequently proved to be a bonus star attraction at the GCR’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 4-6, despite the fact that it was not in steam.
The black livery has adorned other Swindon-built 4-6-0s in preservation, notably the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘Manor’ No. 7819 Hinton Manor, and more recently its classmates Nos. 7820 Dinmore Manor and 7827 Lydham Manor.
Read more News and Features in the November 2019 issue of The Railway Magazine – on sale now!
Advert
