A Rainy Visit to Cambrian Heritage Railways. 73129 (E6036) & 2217 “Henry Ellison” 24th July 2022

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A Rainy Visit to the Cambrian Heritage Railways

24th July 2022

Stations
Oswestry & Weston Wharf
Locomotive
73129 (E6036) “City of Winchester”

CLASS 73
Class JB Electro Diesel built at English Electric Vulcan Foundary and entered traffic July 1966, numbered E6036. In line with the other JB ( 43 ) allocated to Stewarts Lane in London after commissioning at Eastleigh, Electric Blue the original colour with white roof and small yellow panel. Initially used on Southern Region South Western Division to take over last of the steam duties trialling push pull with 4TC units for the Bournemouth Electrification completed July 1967. Thereafter it was used throughout the Southern Region on freight and passenger service. Some loco hauled services were in multiple with EMU's and covered for Bournemouth services when there was a shortage of 4 REP units.
It was painted in full BR Blue early 70's with full yellow ends and TOPS number 73 129 applied January 1973. It was named City of Winchester in 1982 which it carried until withdrawal in 2003. After privatisation it was painted in Intercity Swallow, Dutch Yellow/Grey and Network South East livery. As well as duties on the Southern it ventured into Western Region and Midland territory from time to time including cross London freight and West of Salisbury. It has also worked the Royal Train, Orient Express and Gatwick Express. Latterly it was owned by EWS who withdrew it in 2003. The loco was taken to Booths in Rotherham after suffering a bearing failure
73129 was rescued from Booths by a private purchaser and after some time at Long Marston it went to the Gloucester Warickshire Railway for full restoration and repainting back to its original livery. Most of this was completed but various other items had still to be replaced or repaired. In 2021 the previous owner sold it on and it moved home to the Cambrian Heritage Railway in Oswestry. Here it has continued to be improved, the missing centre buffers are being manufactured and the nameplates, which had been missing since 2003 have recently been reinstated. 73129 is fully operational and continues to give good service.

2217 “Henry Ellison”
ANDREW BARCLAY AND SONS 0-4-0ST
Location: Oswestry (Regular Passenger Service)
Condition: Restored

2217 'Henry Ellison' is currently on hire from the Ecclesbourne Railway. The below is copied from their website about 2217.

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0: 2217 "Henry Ellison"
These small steam locomotives were built at the Caledonia Works, Kilmarnock, of Andrew Barclays and Sons Ltd in Scotland. They are 0-4-0 wheel arrangement saddle tank engines (meaning the water tank is on top and around the boiler). “2217” spent its working life at the Kilnhurst Tar Works of Yorkshire Tar Distillers near Swinton in Rotherham, a period of some 23 years, before being made redundant about 1970. This locomotive was despatched to store at Tinsley in Sheffield where they were to remain for some 35 years until being acquired on long term loan by the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Association, who have restored it. There are a large number of this type of locomotive in preservation, in particular with the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Society, the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, Bowes Railway, East Anglian Railway Museum, Buckingham Railway Societyetc. In the case of “2217”, on arrival it was in a perfectly filthy condition, as the method of keeping it intact was to pour lorry sump oil on it from time to time. Primitive, but effective. It had (possibly) a black or dark green livery, or that may just be tar. Following the return to traffic after restoration, "Henry Ellison" is mostly used shuttling up and down the 1 in 27 incline to Ravenstor on special events but occasionally forays further down the line too.

Information Regarding the Railway

Cambrian Heritage Railways is based at the heart of the historic market town of Oswestry and within walking distance of the town centre, market, castle, town museum and other local amenities. Our Oswestry station boasts a railway museum, restored signal box (only open on selected days), period ticket office and waiting room, shop to support the railway, toilets and visitor parking, this is the start of your journey through time!
Our heritage trains operate on selected days using Steam, Vintage Diesel or Diesel Multiple Units, our newest item of stock is over 36 years old! Trains operate between Oswestry and Weston Wharf (NO visitor parking) and the journey takes you through the suburbs of Oswestry and onward to views of open field before arrival at Weston Wharf 1 3/4 miles to the south.
At Weston Wharf CHR have created a period station based around this historic good transfer station, facilities now include a period waiting room, Toilets, “Snacks on Tracks” cafe, picnic area and displays of railway artifacts. It is our eventual aim to connect to this site creating a 5 mile heritage line.

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#2217
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