BR Standard Tank
4MT; 4P/4F
1966
From steam to scrap: No. 80072 is seen sandwiched within a line of 4MT Tanks at Barry Scrap Yard, not long after its arrival there in January 1966. Its coupling rods and 5' 8'' driving wheels remain intact. For the majority of its short twelve year career, No. 80072 was on the London Tilbury & Southend line, working out of Fenchurch Street alongside Fairburn's LMS Tanks of 1945. Overhead electrification in 1962 saw the locomotive transferred to the Western Region, but with the rapid dieselisation of those lines, it soon found itself surplus to requirements. Behind the engine can just be seen No. 80150. Happily, both locomotives survived into preservation, but No. 80150 remains in scrap yard condition and, indeed, still resides on Barry Island, at the Vale of Glamorgan Railway. © David Glasspool Collection
9th October 1966
On 9th October 1966, Standard Tank No. 80154 was observed at London Bridge ''low-level'', fronting the ''Four Counties'' rail tour for the ''Southern Counties Touring Society''. The locomotive hauled the train to Wimbledon, where it was joined by USA Tank No. 30072, and the pair proceeded onto Tooting Junction goods yard. After returning to Wimbledon, both locomotives were replaced by Bulleid Light Pacific No. 34052 ''Lord Dowding'', which took the tour onto Salisbury via Guildford. © David Glasspool Collection
31st December 1966
The Western Region eventually acquired numbers of this useful type when the ex-SR lines west of Salisbury were transferred to its control. Indeed, steam traction on WR lines was being phased out much more quickly than it was on the SR, and consequently, 4MT Tanks had a short-lived existence on the former. A sorry looking pair, Nos. 80033 and 80068, are depicted withdrawn in Westbury Yard on 31st December 1966. Sadly, neither survived. © David Glasspool Collection
Return to the Kent Rail Homepage or alternatively, check for Updates.
Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster