Moguls on the Lickey 2968 + 7325 attack the incline 1997

Archive footage of Stainer Mogul 2968 and Collet Mogul 7325 in the late 90’s, over two separate occasions. The first is on a lovely bright day double heading working the Lickey Incliner from Finsbury Park to Bescot and return on 22nd November 1997 seen at Spetchley, Lickey Hills and Walsall. And the second the locos are seen topping Lickey Bank on 31st January 1998 working the ‘Inclined Salopian’ from Shrewsbury to Gloucester and return. Both locos now are requiring extensive overhaul at the Severn Valley Railway with 7325 being out of service the longest. The overhauls are hoped to start within the next few years but the pandemic has almost put a nail in the coffin I’d have imagined.

[@RexWaldron]

Fantastic to catch this upload! I was there on both occasions with my Mom and Dad (both no longer with us sadly) and my 2 year old steam engine crazy son (at 29 now, he still loves them). We were at Bromsgrove station on both occasions - never to be forgotten.

[@paulnorthcott6634]

I was lucky enough to be on the train. My overriding memory was of the number of people out to watch it, lines of them at all vantage points up the incline.

[@MrThrash37]

Wow, what a great vantage point you would have had.

[@railfreightdrivergallagherGBRf]

Superb old video. The LMS mogul making more of a din than its GWR friend!!! Brilliant.

[@MrThrash37]

Many thanks!

[@leonblittle226]

7325 is a cracking engine, it's a bit of a shock it's taken a real back seat in the overhaul que and at this rate might not even get one.

[@MrThrash37]

Yes its a shame! Lovely loco!

[@45596Bahamas]

80s/90s These where the days when pretty much any steam loco could go on the mainline. AWS NRN, sorted

[@MrThrash37]

45596 Bahamas I was quite surprised to see the locos in my dads collection on the mainline and locos I’ve only every known as preserved

[@titup2]

You can see from the movements of the people at the end that the film has been speeded up. They would not have been able to achieve that speed at the top of the climb anyway

[@titup2]

My apologies for last comment. Just found that my computer was set to play youtube at double speed; so, ignore my last comment.

[@TheSaint491]

One day, these two will take the rails again I hope, and we can see them put the bigger engines to shame on the mainline

[@MrThrash37]

Fingers crossed, although I doubt it will be on the mainline unfortuantley, thanks for watching.

[@TheSaint491]

@@MrThrash37 a shame, the 80s and 90s was such a great time for steam on the mainline. This, 2857 and her goods train, the midland compound on the s&c with leander, evening star running whitby to Grosmont, Duke of Gloucester with her original record run and chime whistle.

[@chaz1550]

Don't envy the firemen!, :)

[@MrThrash37]

Gotta agree there!

[@TheSaint491]

But the reward must feel immense when you peak the summit and see the children in awe

[@AussiePom]

The crews would swap over as they did in the days of steam for it's the only way a fireman ever got to learn how to drive. These day mainline runs have more than just a driver and fireman on the footplate for there's an inspector too. They're all qualified to drive and fire and they all take turns and they need to for diesel era crews aren't as fit as steam era crews were. There were no fat drivers and fireman in the days of steam because every day on the footplate was a body workout long before public gyms had even been thought of.

[@trainsfan2114]

#tresspassing on the Lickey