BR standard class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell

70013 "Oliver Cromwell" is a British Railways standard class 7 (also known as the Britannia class) preserved steam locomotive. The locomotive is notable as one of four steam locomotives to work the last steam railtour on British Rail (BR) in 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban. [http://www.nrm.org.uk/events/1968/whatson.asp NRM 1968 - Whats On] . Accessed 11 April 2008.]

Career

One of 55 of her class, "Oliver Cromwell" was built at Crewe Works, being completed on 30 May 1951. Initially allocated to Norwich depot (32A), she remained there until 1963 when she was transferred to Carlisle Kingmoor TMD. Steam in East Anglia ended in 1965, after which the north-west of England became the steam locomotive's last stand. On 3 October 1967 she entered Crewe Works and became the last BR-owned steam locomotive to undergo routine heavy overhaul. She was selected to operate the last steam passenger train prior to the abolition of steam traction and in the summer of 1968 "Oliver Cromwell" hauled several specials, culminating in the "Fifteen Guinea Special" which was hauled between Liverpool and Carlisle of 11 August that year.ANON (May 2008). "1968 and All That". Railway Magazine 154 1285: 18-19]

Preservation

rides till the 1980s, before retiring into the museum exhibition.

In 2004, it was announced that Oliver Cromwell would be restored back to main line standard in preparation for the 40th anniversary of the end of steam [ [http://www.nrm.org.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/2004/oliver.asp NRM Press Release] Created May 2004. Accesses 13 April 2008.] . The locomotive was overhauled at the Great Central Railway (GCR) with a view to hauling trains both on the Great Central and specials on the main line. On the weekend of the 3 May – 4 May 2008, the locomotive hauled its first revenue earning passenger services on the GCR's eight mile route. The locomotive made an appearance at the National Railway Museum's "1968 and All That" event celebrating 40 years since the end of steam [http://www.nrm.org.uk/events/1968/whatson.asp NRM 1968 - Whats On] . Accessed 11 April 2008.] .

Its first mainline passenger charter since 1968 was on August 10 2008 when the locomotive took part in a re-run of its last "Fifteen Guinea Special" service. It then went on to operate on the "Scarborough Spa Express" later in the month.On the 9th September 2008 Oliver Cromwell completed a rerun of "the Norfolkman" running from Liverpool Street station to Norwich railway station and return. Visiting the site of its former home of Norwich shed (32A). On the Special 70013 had the shed plate (32A) placed on the smoke box to complete the image.

References

External links

* [http://www.70013.co.uk Oliver Cromwell locomotive website]