Keighley & Worth Valley Railway celebrates 40th anniversary of reopening with limited edition model of WD No. 90733
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway reopened to passenger traffic on 29 June 1968 and has become one of Britain’s leading heritage railways. As part of its 40th Anniversary celebrations, it has commissioned a limited edition run of 500 models of one its resident locomotives, WD No. 90733. No. 90733 was built for the British War Department by The Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in January 1945. The 2-8-0 locomotive was shipped to the continent as the allies advanced and after the war was sold to the Netherlands State Railways (NS) where it became No.4464. It was sold to Swedish State Railways (SJ) in 1953 where it operated as No. 1931. It saw limited service in Sweden between 1954 and 1956. It was withdrawn and placed in store as part of the strategic reserve where it remained until 1972. Members of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway examined No.1931 and purchased it, the locomotive being shipped to Hull before being unloaded at the railway in January 1973. A total of 935 WD 2-8-0 locomotives were built for the War Department between 1943 and 1945. After the war the London & North Eastern Railway purchased 200 of the same class from the War Department in 1946, whilst others were sold to overseas railway operators. On its formation British Railways purchased a further 533 of the class in 1948. Withdrawals in Britain commenced in 1959 and the final locomotive was disposed of in 1967. None of the British locomotives survived. The British locomotives carried the number series 90000 – 90732. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway modified the cab to fit the UK loading gauge so that the loco could be used on services until withdrawal on expiry of the boiler certificate in 1976. The locomotive returned to service in July 2007 after a substantial rebuilding project, which saw the locomotive restored to its as-built condition and given the next available number in the series, No. 90733. This locomotive is unique; in recognition of this and its war-time associations, in future it will carry the name Remembrance, annually, on Armistice Weekend. To commemorate the rebuilding of 90733 and the reopening of its railway, the railway’s charitable trust is sponsoring the production of 500 models of this unique locomotive. There will be only one production run of 500 models – no more will be produced. All proceeds from these sales will be devoted to the restoration of the railway’s locomotive fleet. The limited edition Bachmann OO gauge model (catalogue number 32-250W) will only be available from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. 500 models will be available and they will be sold with a numbered certificate. Optional scale nameplates, which may be affixed at the discretion of the purchaser, will be included in the pack. The model is due to be delivered to the railway in June 2008. You can order your model by ringing 07500-165-814; please have your credit or debit card details ready. Alternatively, order forms can be obtained from the railway’s website (www.kwvr.co.uk), by email to
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or from Haworth shop. |
