GWR 4-6-0 Hall

4953 Pitchford Hall

Built : Swindon 1929

Withdrawn : May 1963

Restored & Mainline Certified : Dec 2005

Images : click on an image to enlarge

4953 Pitchford Hall is a member of the Great Western Hall Class 5MT Mixed Traffic Locomotives. The engine was built for the Great Western Railway in 1929 at Swindon Works. She is one of the mixed traffic Hall class engines which did sterling work for the GWR and BR on all sorts of trains. Several of the type were allocated to Tyseley shed for semi-fast, parcels and holiday excursions and they also worked the fruit trains to Moor Street goods depot including the famous broccoli trains from Cornwall.

Pitchford Hall was withdrawn from service in May 1963 and sold as scrap to Woodham Bros of Barry.

 After rescue from Barry, the loco spent some time at Thingley Junction before moving to Tyseley for restoration to mainline standards. After successful tests the boiler was reunited with the frames and the locomotive was lit up on Saturday 7th February 2004 when it moved under its own power for the first time in 40 years. 

4953 Pitchford Hall underwent its mainline certification trials on Sunday 11th December 2005, between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon on the route of the Shakespeare Express. The morning run was from Tyseley with just a support coach. The afternoon run was a full loaded trial using Vintage Trains Shakesepare Express coach stock. Passengers were impressed by Pitchfrod's performance especially the run back with a lively climb up Wilmcote Bank, a steady climb up Langley Bank and a fine runs along the GWR main line between Hatton & Lapworth and Dorridge & Olton. Pitchford Hall has since appeared on the Shakespeare Express.

For more information about Pitchford Hall and the locomotive's history, please visit the Pitchford Hall 4953 Engine Society website.