A stalwart of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway fleet, 4F 43924 is due to be withdrawn from service in 2021. Having worked hard through the Covid timetables in 2020 and earlier this year, and having been used extensively for the filming of the sequel to the Railway Children back in the Spring, the loco is somewhat 'tired' mechanically speaking, but still just about running as I type this in September.
I (Ben) can remember this machine re-entering traffic not long after I moved up to Yorkshire; I admit to slightly neglecting taking pictures of the loco. Nice as it is, it's been such a bread-and-butter engine for the KWVR I don't really go out of my way to get pics of it. Learning of its imminent withdrawal, I managed some pics whilst they were checking it over post-filming back in June, whilst we were riding the trains, and then off-and-on throughout the summer hols...
With the KWVR a little low on functioning locomotives earlier in the year (maintenance backlogs due to Covid apparently), they'd been rostering the 4F on lighter-loadings like the midweek trains immediately before the school holidays. I managed to get some shots at Damems Station on an admittedly gloomy day...
...then down by the river in rather nicer conditions.
On Bridge 11.
Back to the gloom, but trying out a new spot opened up by a tree falling on the riverbank.
It'll be a shame to see this loco withdrawn, but then it is such a useful member of the fleet, it probably won't be too long before it's back in service.
Shot published in Railways Illustrated.
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