Meaford No2

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	Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 0-6-0 tank built 1951, number 7684 "Meaford No 2" Above: RSH "Meaford No2" on demonstration freight train in Caverswall Road yard One of the largest locomotives at Foxfield, this modern outside cylindered side tank weighs about 50 tons. The design became a standard for the British Electricity Authority (later the Central Electricity Generating Board) for use at its large power stations throughout the UK. The BEA had a requirement for locomotives capable of taking over a 1,000 ton train from a British Railways locomotive for the final stage of its journey to the coal tipplers. There were eventually 12 of these locomotives in the West Midlands Region alone. Built at the Forth Bank Works in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, sister locomotives numbers 7683 and 7684 were delivered new to Meaford Power Station at Barlaston near Stone in 1951, becoming "MEA No1" and "MEA No2" respectively. However, they were soon separated, as in October 1951 "MEA No2" was moved to Nechells Power Station in Warwickshire, where it joined similar locomotives and was renumbered "No 4". The rest of its working life was spent at Nechells until it was withdrawn from use. Above: RSH 7684 shunts wagons at Nechells Power Station in 1970 [late HB Holland collection] Together with another example from Nechells, "No 3", it was preserved at the Battlefield Line Railway at Shackerstone, arriving there on 11 June 1973. It was restored to working order by its owner in 1995, and then moved to the Foxfield Railway on 8 July 1996, where its livery was completed in the lined green form originally carried when new at Meaford Power Station. "No 2" has been a regular and powerful performer on Foxfield passenger trains ever since. Above: RSH 7684 restored but still unlined, on one of its first Foxfield Railway passenger turns [photograph by John Sherratt] Several of the locos with which "Meaford No 2" worked have been preserved, including... Sister "MEA no1" remained at Meaford Power Station for all its working life until moved to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury for preservation in December 1970, and operated their first passenger trains. In 1996 it then moved on to the North Tyneside Steam Railway and is in full working order there, named "Ted Garrett JP DL MP." See: http://www.ntsra.freeserve.co.uk/stock.html A locomotive of the same design, that effectively replaced our "MEA No2" at Meaford, and assumed its identity, was RSH 7745 delivered in 1952. This locomotive has enjoyed a more exotic life in preservation, being exported for use at the Boyne City Railroad, Grand Falls, Michigan USA, complete with a train of three BR Mark 1 carriages, where it was named "Flying Duchess"! Finally, the other locomotive preserved from Nechells, "No3" (RSH 7537 of 1949) remains at the Battlefield Line Railway where it was named "Richard III", but is currently out of service, see: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ChrisSimmons/Locomotives.htm

Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 0-6-0 tank built 1951, number 7684 "Meaford No 2"

Above: RSH "Meaford No2" on demonstration freight train in Caverswall Road yard

One of the largest locomotives at Foxfield, this modern outside cylindered side tank weighs about 50 tons. The design became a standard for the British Electricity Authority (later the Central Electricity Generating Board) for use at its large power stations throughout the UK. The BEA had a requirement for locomotives capable of taking over a 1,000 ton train from a British Railways locomotive for the final stage of its journey to the coal tipplers. There were eventually 12 of these locomotives in the West Midlands Region alone. Built at the Forth Bank Works in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, sister locomotives numbers 7683 and 7684 were delivered new to Meaford Power Station at Barlaston near Stone in 1951, becoming "MEA No1" and "MEA No2" respectively. However, they were soon separated, as in October 1951 "MEA No2" was moved to Nechells Power Station in Warwickshire, where it joined similar locomotives and was renumbered "No 4". The rest of its working life was spent at Nechells until it was withdrawn from use.

Above: RSH 7684 shunts wagons at Nechells Power Station in 1970 [late HB Holland collection]

Together with another example from Nechells, "No 3", it was preserved at the Battlefield Line Railway at Shackerstone, arriving there on 11 June 1973. It was restored to working order by its owner in 1995, and then moved to the Foxfield Railway on 8 July 1996, where its livery was completed in the lined green form originally carried when new at Meaford Power Station. "No 2" has been a regular and powerful performer on Foxfield passenger trains ever since.

Above: RSH 7684 restored but still unlined, on one of its first Foxfield Railway passenger turns

[photograph by John Sherratt]

Several of the locos with which "Meaford No 2" worked have been preserved, including...

Sister "MEA no1" remained at Meaford Power Station for all its working life until moved to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury for preservation in December 1970, and operated their first passenger trains. In 1996 it then moved on to the North Tyneside Steam Railway and is in full working order there, named "Ted Garrett JP DL MP." See: http://www.ntsra.freeserve.co.uk/stock.html

A locomotive of the same design, that effectively replaced our "MEA No2" at Meaford, and assumed its identity, was RSH 7745 delivered in 1952. This locomotive has enjoyed a more exotic life in preservation, being exported for use at the Boyne City Railroad, Grand Falls, Michigan USA, complete with a train of three BR Mark 1 carriages, where it was named "Flying Duchess"!

Finally, the other locomotive preserved from Nechells, "No3" (RSH 7537 of 1949) remains at the Battlefield Line Railway where it was named "Richard III", but is currently out of service, see:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ChrisSimmons/Locomotives.htm