53808's last day of normal service before overhaul скачать в хорошем качестве

53808's last day of normal service before overhaul

4 November 2023 was 53808's last day in normal service before overhaul. At Ropley, S&DRT Chairman, Roger Hardingham, shows us a 'leaving card' filled in by some of those who had worked on 53808 and which had been presented to him on the train. The video footage that follows was all taken on the last round trip to Alton and back. On the way back - accompanied by the S&D 7F's distinctive sound when working hard uphill - we include a number of archive images of 53808 while working on the S&D. During the evening, 53808 continued on the Real Ale Train. [Video by Rod Ormston.] 53808: Our loco was built in 1925 specifically for hauling heavy freight services over the Mendip Hills. Originally numbered S&D 88, the loco was subsequently renumbered to 9678 in 1930, given the LMS number 13808 in 1932 and finally received its BR number - 53808 - in 1949. Following withdrawal in 1964, the loco was acquired by the Trust from the Woodham Bros. scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, in 1970. 53808 is one of only two S&D 7Fs to survive - the other is 53809. Restoration was finally completed in 1987 and the loco was based on the West Somerset Railway until August 2020 - regularly passing by the Trust's then-base at Washford station. In 2020, the hire agreement was suspended to allow the locomotive to travel to the Watercress Line for the remainder of the validity of the boiler certificate. Find out more about 53808 and the Trust at www.sdrt.org.