08604 - 'Phantom'

08604 was shedded at Tyseley near Birmingham where one of the GWS volunteers, Simon Grego, was a fitter, the engine became well known as he repainted the loco in full BR lined out green. She was withdrawn after sheering a crank pin key and had been purchased by a private individual from BR and the owner was looking for a place to keep it.

Enter once again Simon, he made contact with the then Locomotive Manager, Richard Preston, who negotiated with the owner for the loan of the loco to the GWS and its movement to Didcot. Once at Didcot she required an extensive overhaul. One of the wheelsets had to be exchanged and the traction motor repaired, the engine had seized and had to be freed up and the cab was devoid of some fittings which meant a partial re-wire.

On the expiry of the loan agreement the loco was purchased outright by the GWS and now forms a very important part of the site's plant and equipment.

The locomotive spent some time in a fictitious black war department livery with the number WD40, and then in the 'Tyseley' BR lined out green, but in August 2010 she was repainted into an earlier plain green livery. In August 2017 the livery changed yet again, this time to BR Blue.

She is now used on for shunting the yard at Didcot Railway Centre and sometimes works demonstration goods trains and very occasionally passenger trains at Open Days and Special Events.

Status

Operational

Build date

1959

Built at

British Railways, Derby

Original railway

British Railways

Wheel arrangement

0-6-0 DE

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