The Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society now owns a number of locomotives, including Stanier Black 5 No. 45379 and BR Standard 4 No. 75079. 45379 is one of the successful “Black Five” 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotives designed by William Stanier. Built by Armstrong Whitworth of Newcastle in July 1937 and first allocated to Crewe, it moved to Rugby in 1948 at nationalisation, back to Crewe in 1956 and on to Bletchley in 1961. Although Black Fives remained in service until the last day of mainline steam forty years ago, 45379 moved to Willesden in 1964, from where it was withdrawn in the summer of 1965, going to Barry scrap yard later that year.
In 1974, it was bought for restoration and taken to the Avon Valley Railway, later to the Great Central Railway. It was bought from there by MHRPS, coming to Alresford on 1st March 2002. Black Fives occasionally worked as far south as Bournemouth and even ran over the Mid-Hants. This locomotive is large enough for the steep gradients here at the Mid-Hants, but small enough to be economical.
45379 is currently in storage at Margate awaiting overhaul.
We have Special Days all year round at the Watercress Line. From family-friendly events such as Day Out With Thomas to evening dining experiences through the heart of Hampshire.
We have Events and Themed Days throughout the year at The Watercress Line. Click below to find out more.
