A locomotive which operated British Rail’s last regular steam train on 4th August 1968 will be back at work on Haworth’s famous Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on Thursday 4th August 2011 as staff and visitors celebrate its unique place in railway history.
Black Five No. 45212 was on duty in Preston on 4th August 1968 – B.R.’s official ‘Last Day of Steam’ – and is now generally recognised as the very last steam locomotive to have worked on that fateful day.
The KWVR purchased the locomotive directly from British Railways in 1969 and it was in regular use until withdrawn for a major overhaul in the mid 1970s.
Following an extended loan to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 45212 is now back home and hauling trains at the Worth Valley Railway.
KWVR spokesman Sam MacDougall commented:
“No. 45212 was based at Preston’s Lostock Hall shed and is on record as being the very last steam locomotive on B.R. to have been out working on the last day of regular B.R. steam – truly the Last of the Last.”
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway operates daily steam train services until 11th September, with special midweek ‘Summer Days Out’ tickets available offering unlimited travel on trains and connecting vintage buses.
