80072

Above: 80072 in BR days. (Mark Hoofe)

80072 was completed at Brighton in 1953. Running-in turns were completed near Brighton, before it moved to Plaistow to work the suburban services from Fenchurch Street over the London, Tilbury and Southend lines. Electrification displaced 80072 in 1962, being transferred to Swansea East Dock, from where it worked the Central Wales line and services to Pembroke and Camarthen. 1963 saw the engine move to Leamington Spa to work Birmingham suburban services and car transporter trains. After a short stay at Tyseley in 1965, the loco was withdrawn and moved to Barry in January 1966.

It was rescued in 1988, with initial restoration proceeding at Swindon. A group of members purchased the locomotive in 1991, and restoration continued at both Swindon and Llangollen. Amongst other items requiring attention was a buckle in the mainframes, and a new wheelset had to be manufactured as one of the original wheels had been cut through after a derailment at Barry. In 1995 the whole engine moved to Llangollen for the later phases of restoration to start, and the following year it was moved, by now a 2-6-4 once more, to the restoration road in the new shed. The side tanks and bunker were fitted in 1997. Restoration continues, the major hurdle to overcome being the boiler.

Above: 80072 under restoration in Llangollen loco shed, taken in June 2000. (George Jones)

Above: An alternative view of 80072's overhaul in progress. (David Freeman)

Llangollen Standard 4 Trust

This locomotive is being restored by the Llangollen Standard 4 Project, and the Llangollen Standard 4 Trust is a charitable body set up to help to achieve this.

What is Special About 80072?

• 80072 has been saved from scrap by a Llangollen Railway based group to work on the Llangollen Railway
• 80072 is already over half way to working order , only the boiler is left to refurbish (see pics)
• 80072 represents the finest and most efficient large passenger tank class ever built, easy to work on and maintain
• 80072 will be a home based quality locomotive such as the Llangollen Railway needs
• 80072 will be able to handle any type of traffic on the Llangollen Railway economically
• 80072 represents historically the ultimate stage of locomotive development in this country
• 80072 is of a class which once worked extensively in Wales, as well as other parts of the UK, and so has a place in Welsh railway heritage
• 80072 herself once worked in Wales, and has spent most of her existence there already
• 80072 is a registered charity
• 80072 needs financial support now if she is to work in the near future

Do you hope to see 80072 working soon on the Llangollen Railway?

Do you support the Llangollen Railway in its need for modern efficient steam power?

Do you favour national and Welsh heritage and charitable causes?

Do you want the pleasure of riding behind a large standard tank engine regularly though the beautiful Welsh mountains?

Do you cherish the idea of being involved in the restoration and running of a fine steam locomotive?

If 'yes' is the answer to any of these questions, perhaps you would like to be part of the team supporting the return to service and operation of 80072. You can help by becoming a member of the Trust, by making a donation under gift aid, or by completing a deed of covenant. For more details of all of these, the Trust can be contacted at peter@standard4.fsnet.co.uk.

Benefits of Membership

The Llangollen Standard 4 Trust has been set up as a support body to help repair, run, maintain, and enjoy the locomotive 80072. As the Trust expands it intends to:

• Organise regular trips for members behind 80072 with meetings at Llangollen and perhaps elsewhere
• Issue membership cards to all members
• Produce an attractive and lively magazine, to which all members will be invited to contribute
• Ensure that all members have access to, and the opportunity to be involved with, the locomotive in every possible way
• Enable members, who wish to, to work on the restoration and maintenance of the locomotive, and to train for footplate duties on it and other engines
• Make it possible for those who wish to have footplate rides

By joining the Trust, you will:

• Help get the engine operating sooner
• Help the Llangollen Railway in its quest for economical steam power
• Preserve national and Welsh heritage

If you'd like to help, please get in touch: peter@standard4.fsnet.co.uk.

Last updated 16th May 2008 by John Rutter  

80072 in Llangollen Shed Yard

Above - the smokebox door newly fitted in Llangollen Shed

Below - cab fittings installed

Below Left - The firebox stripped for inspection and new parts fitting.

Centre - the old first & second boiler rings

Both pics 13th March 2007 at Crewe - Pete Evans

The rolling chasis awaiting the return of the refurbished boiler, Llangollen Shed 16th April 2008

Picture - John Rutter

A View of the Future?

80136 at Llangollen & Carrog as the visiting locomotive of the Autumn Steam Gala 2007

Photos - Pete Evans

Shed Allocations

Plaistow

33A

November 1953

Tilbury

33B

December 1956

Swansea East Dock

87D

August 1962

Leamington Spa

2L

September 1963

Shrewsbury???

6D

June 1965

Withdrawn

July 1965

Barry

1968

Swindon

1988

Llangollen

1995

Principal Dimensions

Wheel arrangement

2-6-4T

Power classification

4MT

Nominal tractive effort

25,520 lbs

Weight

87 tons

Wheel diameters

5'8", 3'0"

Cylinders

Two 18½" x 28"

Boiler pressure

225psi

Valve gear

Walschaert

Route Availability

4

80072 in Llangollen Shed on 9th March 2008 awaiting the boiler

Photo - John Rutter

Probably the saddest photo on this page. Ted Buckley says: This photo was taken on 15th September 1975, and shows 80072 in company with 35022 “Holland-America Line”. The loco looks like a second ‘Project Impossible’ aka 71000, with no motion, no cab, no chimney, and the centre driving wheel sliced off following a derailment on one of the loco’s nocturnal wanderings! 80072 was perhaps predictably, the last of the 14 class members to leave Barry, in July 1988, a full 28 months after 35022.

Photo - Ted Buckley