Gordon the Sidelined Engine

LMR (Longmoor Military Railway) 2-10-0 no. 600 Gordon was built in 1943 to the War Department "Austerity" design. The engine used to be a regular sight on the Severn Valley Railway (I have fond memories) but these days sits slightly forlornly in the Engine House at Highley. Better there than rusting away in the open, but it's still hardly ideal for a mighty loco like this.

Gordon has been cosmetically restored, but a variety of factors would seem to conspire against 600 ever steaming again. Cost is one; unpopularity with crews another; the presence of easier candidates a third. I'd very much like to see Gordon haul trains again, but sadly if I were a betting man I wouldn't be placing any money on it. I fear that the Engine House will be 600's permanent home.

The photo is not of amazing quality, I know: hand-held 1/8s exposures do that!

(The engine in the background is BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T no. 80079, which will return to steam in the fairly near future.)