Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
WD 2-8-0 number 90733 working a freight consist on the KWVR in 2008.
None of this large British Railways class were saved for preservation.
This particular locomotive, WD 9257 was built by the Vulcan Foundry at Newton le Willows in 1945 and shipped to the continent on completion to aid troop and supplies movement across Europe. It was renumbered WD 79257 before going to mainland Europe.
After the Second Word War it was one of 184 locomotives of the class that worked on the Dutch State Railway. It became Dutch State Railway 4300 class number 4464.
In 1953 it was sold to the Swedish State Railway and renumbered 1931. It entered service in Sweden in 1954 but was withdrawn in October 1956. Some minor restoration took place before the locomotive was placed in an isolated forest clearing in northern Sweden where it was stored undercover as part of a strategic reserve until the end of 1972. It was never used again in Sweden.
In 1972 it was purchased and brought back to Britain in January 1973 and based at the Keighley Worth Valley Railway (KWVR). At this stage it was not in its as built state as it had been modified, as follows:
The tender was shortened to six wheels from eight.
The cab was fully enclosed for as for use north of the Arctic Circle.
Fitting of standard SJ boiler fittings and steam heating equipment.
Modifications were made to the cab to make it fit within the loading gauge of the Worth Valley Railway. The locomotive was steamed again and operated until 1976 when it was withdrawn because of its general run down condition.
During 1993 a heavy repair was of the locomotive was started with the intention of returning it back to its original state. This was after the discovery and purchase of an eight-wheel tender chassis in found in a steelworks in the Netherlands. The restoration was completed in 2007 and as 90733 (the next consecutive number of the original BR class) it hauled its first passenger train in July 2007.
This video footage was taken on a photographic charter organised by Don Bishop of 'Steam Recreations'. Many thanks to Don and the KWVR staff for making this happen.
WD 2-8-0 number 90733 working a freight consist on the KWVR in 2008.
None of this large British Railways class were saved for preservation.
This particular locomotive, WD 9257 was built by the Vulcan Foundry at Newton le Willows in 1945 and shipped to the continent on completion to aid troop and supplies movement across Europe. It was renumbered WD 79257 before going to mainland Europe.
After the Second Word War it was one of 184 locomotives of the class that worked on the Dutch State Railway. It became Dutch State Railway 4300 class number 4464.
In 1953 it was sold to the Swedish State Railway and renumbered 1931. It entered service in Sweden in 1954 but was withdrawn in October 1956. Some minor restoration took place before the locomotive was placed in an isolated forest clearing in northern Sweden where it was stored undercover as part of a strategic reserve until the end of 1972. It was never used again in Sweden.
In 1972 it was purchased and brought back to Britain in January 1973 and based at the Keighley Worth Valley Railway (KWVR). At this stage it was not in its as built state as it had been modified, as follows:
The tender was shortened to six wheels from eight.
The cab was fully enclosed for as for use north of the Arctic Circle.
Fitting of standard SJ boiler fittings and steam heating equipment.
Modifications were made to the cab to make it fit within the loading gauge of the Worth Valley Railway. The locomotive was steamed again and operated until 1976 when it was withdrawn because of its general run down condition.
During 1993 a heavy repair was of the locomotive was started with the intention of returning it back to its original state. This was after the discovery and purchase of an eight-wheel tender chassis in found in a steelworks in the Netherlands. The restoration was completed in 2007 and as 90733 (the next consecutive number of the original BR class) it hauled its first passenger train in July 2007.
This video footage was taken on a photographic charter organised by Don Bishop of 'Steam Recreations'. Many thanks to Don and the KWVR staff for making this happen.
