| Picture No: | 2972 |
| Courtesy of: | John Southall |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Add to my Album | Contributor's Website |
34045 Ottery St Mary at Crewe works in 2003
On the 31st May 2003 ex Southern Pacific West Country 4-6-2 34045 Ottery St Mary is on display at Crewe works open days or is it?
Well actually no. 34045 was not preserved and this, if I remember correctly, is actually 34027 Taw Valley.
Picture Added on 02 February 2008.
Comments
"Taw Valley was withdrawn from service in August 1964 and towed to Woodhams Scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. Here it was neglected and left to rust for 16 years until purchased by Bert Hitchen in April 1980. The locomotive was initially moved to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for restoration, followed by a spell at the East Lancashire Railway. The restoration was finally completed at the Severn Valley Railway in 1987.
Taw Valley has spent some time in the maroon livery of the ‘Hogwarts Express’ as featured in the ‘Harry Potter’ series of films and novels. The locomotive was used to promote the fourth book, ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’, and hauled a nation-wide tour train with the book author JK Rowling herself on the train signing books and giving interviews. The locomotive does not feature in the actual films themselves though, that honour going to Great Western locomotive no. 5972 ‘Olton Hall’.
Taw Valley is usually seen running under the guise of long since scrapped sister engine no. 34045 Ottery St Mary and is a regular performer on VSOE excursions.
Added by Peter Langsdale on 03 February 2008.