Information on the Standard 5's and 73096

Following the nationalisation of Britain’s railways in 1948, a team led by R A Riddles were given the task of designing new, modern, more versatile types of locomotive.  There would be 12 new British Railways ‘Standard’ designs including nine types of locomotives with tenders.

The new class 5MT (mixed traffic) 4-6-0 locomotive that emerged in fact owed much of its design to the pre-nationalisation William Stanier designed ‘Black 5’ of the LMSR, (‘5’ denotes the relative power of the locomotive on a scale of 1 – 9).  However, the opportunity was taken to include some improvements of particular benefit to the footplate crews such as controls that were within easy reach of the seats.

No. 73096 was built at the BR Derby works in 1955 and allocated to the Patricroft (Manchester) shed. 73096 also had spells at Shrewsbury, Gloucester and Nuneaton until withdrawn from service in 1967. The locomotive was taken to Woodhams Scrapyard at Barry in South Wales where it languished until 1985 when it was rescued by a member of the Mid Hants Railway albeit minus its tender.

73096 underwent restoration at Ropley and was completed in October 1993. A new tender was constructed on an ex-LMS Stanier ‘Black 5’ tender chassis. Originally restored as no. 73080 Merlin and painted in BR lined black livery the locomotive was subsequently renumbered to 73096 and the name removed. The locomotive was also repainted in BR lined green, a livery that was first applied when the engine was allocated to Shrewsbury in 1958. It was normal practice for a class ‘5’ locomotive, allocated to the Western Region, to wear the green passenger livery instead of the normal lined black.

73096 has become a regular and reliable performer on the mainline hauling railtours from London to such destinations as Salisbury, Exeter, Yeovil and Canterbury. The locomotive remains a stalwart of passenger services on the Mid Hants Railway when not undertaking mainline duties. Given its age it must be hoped that 73096 will be in service for many years to come.

Note: January 2005

The Mid-Hants Railway has decided to withdraw 73096 from mainline duties and sadly this fine locomotive is unlikely to be seen on the mainline again for the forseeable future.