The A4 LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY LIMITED ( A Company Limited by Guarantee ) was formed early
in 1967 to take over by agreement the assets and membership of the A4 Preservation
Society, which had been formed in 1964 with the object of preserving in full working order
the former LNER class A4 Pacific locomotive No 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley. 4498 Sir Nigel
Gresley was the 100th Pacific locomotive built to the design of Sir Nigel Gresley, the
Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway Company.
4498 was built at Doncaster Locomotive Works of the LNER, Works No 1863, and allocated
to Kings Cross Shed, London on 30th November 1937. A naming ceremony had taken place on
16th November at Marylebone station. The nameplates were unveiled by William Whitelaw, the
Chairman of the LNER, who also presented Sir Nigel Gresley with a miniature silver replica
of the locomotive to commemorate the occasion.
No 4498 ran approximately 1 1/2 million miles in revenue earning service for the LNER
and British Rail and was withdrawn from service in February 1966 as British Rail No 60007.
During May 1966 the locomotive was purchased by the A4 Preservation Society for £4,500,
the Society having raised the money by public appeal and from the proceeds of rail tours.
The locomotive was transferred to Crewe Locomotive Works and after a full examination a
major overhaul was commenced in August 1966 and this was completed in March 1967 at a cost
of approximately £16,000.
The Society decided that the locomotive should be restored in the Garter Blue livery in
which it was painted originally, bearing its LNER number 4498 and with modifications that
had been made over the years to improve the performance of A4s. On 1st April 1967, the
'Inaugural Run' special train organised by the A4 Locomotive Society Ltd and the first
train worked by 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley in the private ownership of the Society, ran from
Crewe to Carlisle going over Shap and the return via Ais Gill and Blackburn. Near Weaver
Junction, 16 miles from the start out of Crewe, 4498 reached a top speed of 92 mph with a
remarkable performance for a loco so new out of shops. The Society officers had been told
at Crewe that the loco was good for 110 mph after the overhaul had been done!
After the inaugural run, 4498 was used on a number of rail tours in 1967 until steam
locomotives were banned from BR later in the year.
4498 was moved from Crewe to the National Coal Board depot at Philadelphia Co. Durham
and was maintained there in full working order until April 1977. The second major boiler
overhaul was carried out by the Society during this time.
In 1972 the steam ban was relaxed and since then 4498 has been actively engaged in
running excursions on BR. A further major overhaul was carried out in 1983/84. Following
this on returning to service, 4498 was taken to London for the launch of the Post Office
Famous Trains railway stamps issue from the original paintings by Terence Cuneo on which
4498 was shown on the 1st class stamp (17p) hauling the Flying Scotsman train.
As a result of this visit to London 4498 was used by British Rail to launch the series
of special trains steam hauled from Marylebone to Stratford upon Avon. This very
successful enterprise led to the wider use of preserved steam locomotives in the
developing leisure market, at the same time broadening the scope for steam traction on BR
to satisfy the increasing demands of railway enthusiasts for new routes.
The Society was a founder member of the Steam Locomotive Operators Association which
represents the interests of all privately owned steam locomotives that operate on BR and
agrees with them the standards of maintenance that are required for safe operation on the
main line.
The fourth major overhaul of 4498 was commenced in the autumn of 1989 at Steamtown,
Carnforth and this work has been completed at a cost of approximately £135,000. Included
in this programme was extensive renovation of the tender and the Society's support coach.
During the early autumn of 1994, it was decided to repaint 4498 in the BR standard
express passenger blue livery, which the engine carried in the early 1950s as No 60007 and
is unique on preserved main line locomotives. At the same time, opportunity was taken to
celebrate the 35th anniversary of the world post-war speed record of 112 mph gained by
60007 on May 29th 1959. Alan Pegler, who was on the footplate when the engine achieved
this record, unveiled commemorative plaques at the Great Central Railway, where the
repaint was carried out.
A great deal of the work in carrying out an overhaul is done by the voluntary labour of
members having the necessary skills to complete the many complex and arduous tasks. Other
members give support by way of donations and loans. The Society is therefore always
relying on members and new members are very welcome. 60007's home engineering base is at
the East Lancs Railway at Bury.
To join the Society try an SAE to: Membership Secretary, Coldstream House,
Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire. OX7 6DG
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