No. 70013

BRITISH RAILWAYS STANDARD CLASS 7 4-6-2 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”

Designed by R. A. Riddles as part of the BR Standard fleet, 70013 was a mixed-traffic engine — one of 55 built and one of just two preserved.

Completed at Crewe in May 1951, 70013 was first allocated to the Eastern Region, based at Norwich shed. It spent most of its early years working express passenger trains between London and Norwich, covering 460 miles daily.

In September 1961, 70013 moved from Norwich to March Motive Power Depot. Then in December 1963, it was re-allocated to the London Midland Region, based at Carlisle’s Kingmoor shed, mainly handling freight and parcels.

In 1966, 70013 was overhauled at Crewe. On August 11th, 1968, it was one of four locomotives chosen to haul the last British Railways steam-hauled railtour, known as the “15 Guinea Special.” 70013 pulled the train between Manchester Victoria and Carlisle, becoming the last steam locomotive to haul a passenger train for British Railways, securing its place in history and the reason for its preservation.

The next day, August 12th, 70013 ran light engine to Norwich, where many of its classmates were awaiting scrapping. It then moved to Diss and was transported by lorry a short distance to Bressingham, arriving on August 19th, 1968.

At Bressingham, it continued in use on a short 200-yard track, giving guards van and footplate rides until 1973, when it was parked in the museum and remained there.

During this time, the National Railway Museum took custodianship of the National Collection, including 70013, alongside other locomotives like 63601 and 30777. In 1993, Steam Railway led an attempt to recall 70013 from Bressingham, but it stayed there until the long-term agreement ended.

On May 21st, 2004, 70013 left Bressingham, travelling by road to York’s National Railway Museum. It had spent nearly 36 years at Bressingham, far longer than its 17 years of mainline service.

After York, 70013 was transported by road to the Great Central Railway (GCR), where it featured at various events during the summer before entering the works for overhaul. It steamed again in 2008, forty years after hauling the “15 Guinea Special.”

In 2018, 70013 starred in a recreation of the Fifteen Guinea Special to mark the 50th anniversary of the original run. It continued working until the final day of

2018, including the New Year’s Eve passenger service, before being withdrawn for overhaul upon arrival at Loughborough in the early hours of January 1st, 2019 — just before its boiler certificate expired the following day.

Over the years, 70013 ran on many preserved lines and hauled numerous mainline charter trains.