A Legend Returns: 60532 'Blue Peter' - Loaded Test Runs on the SVR - 27/03/24

After an absence of over 20 years, the sole surviving LNER Peppercorn A2 - No.60532 'Blue Peter' - finally made its long awaited return to the rails, earlier this month. Since its last runs in 2002, the locomotive had been a static exhibit, until late 2014, when it was purchased from its then owners - the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group - by the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust, later to become Locomotive Services Limited, with the intention of returning it to steam for work on the main line and heritage railway circuit. An overhaul began in 2015 and was subsequently completed in early 2024, with the loco making its first moves at LSL's Crewe depot earlier this month, sporting an incomplete BR Express Blue livery. While the A2s never wore the blue in BR days, it's certainly going to look stunning once its properly lined out! After the loco's initial moves, it was then transported by road to the Severn Valley Railway for a period of extensive testing, both light engine and loaded with LSL's SVR based set of air braked MK3 coaches, frequently used for testing of their locomotives.

The loaded test runs began on Monday 25th March, with two full line round trips between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth taking place each day, in between regular SVR services on some days. A trip up with the camera was definitely required, heading up on Wednesday 27th for a few shots in between a rather inclement weather forecast.

We start things off along Northwood Lane, just after Bewdley Station, where we get our first taste of Blue Peter's party piece, a New Zealand 5-tone chime whistle, which is a feature of its post-BR service life, having been presented to its first owner in preservation, Geoff Drury, some time in the 1970s. After a quick dash up the line, we catch up with with Blue Peter as it ambles up the 1 in 100 gradient of Eardington Bank in the midday sun. As a brief interlude between the first and second forward facing test runs, the next shot brings us to Hay Bridge, where we see BR Class 46 No.D182 accelerating away from a speed restriction at Sterns, working the 12:15 Kidderminster to Bridgnorth service. Back up to Eardington and onto the top field for the last shot, where Blue Peter is captured on the second test run of the day, getting a good gallop on in some unexpected but very welcome afternoon sunshine. 40 minutes prior, the scene was very different, with everyone taking cover in their cars from an almighty shower of rain, sleet and hail. To say we were fortunate with the day's weather is definitely an understatement!

Certainly a pleasant day's filming all around and its always good to see something new out and about. I'd previously only seen Blue Peter once before, when it was static at Barrow Hill Roundhouse during their 'East Coast Giants' gala in February of 2014, over 10 years ago!

Timestamps:

00:00 60532, Northwood Lane
01:59 60532, Eardington (Lower Field)
03:44 D182, Hay Bridge
05:06 60532, Eardington (Top Field)

Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an Audio-Technica BP4025 microphone.

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