48173 (LMS 8173 & BR 48173)

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48173 was built at Crewe as 8173 in 1943 as part of the batch produced for the LMS and entered service at Willesden depot. It was renumbered 48173 in February 1950 following the nationalisation of the railways in 1948.

Initial duties were heavy goods work to Toton (Nottingham) and with inter- regional transfer freights via the West London Line.

BR motive power depot allocations since 1948.

Date Arrived	Depot
January 1948	Willesden
February 1948	Newton Heath
December 1949	Rugby
January 1965	Mold Junction

48173 was withdrawn from service at Mold Junction in July 1965.

48173 moved to Woodham Brothers Yard at Barry in October 1965 and remained there for 23 years.

In December 1987 it was purchased by the Avon Valley Railway (AVR) and became one of the last locomotives to be rescued from the Barry scrap yard. The locomotive was moved to the AVR Bitton headquarters in September the following year, 1988.

Other projects taking president at the AVR saw 48173 resold and it was sold to Greg Wilson, a Director of the Churnet Valley Railway (CVR) where it arrived in December 2007. The Fowler tender, originally attached to long time Churnet Valley Railway resident 4F 44422 and bought from Barry along with 48173 arrived at the CVR in November 2007.

It was put on display at Cheddleton Yard at the CVR Steam Gala in February 2008. Soon after this though it was quickly stripped down in readiness for its overhaul to begin.

Even though the plan is for its overhaul to begin in earnest once both 6046 and 5197 are operating, the acquisition of parts has been ongoing behind the scenes to enable a faster return to steam once its turn arrives.

The restoration of 48173 started in earnest in early 2017 which began with a material analysis of the boiler and frames. The boiler barrel of classmate 48518 has been acquired as part of the overhaul of 48173.

By early 2018 arrangements had been made to have a replacement fireboxbackplate produced at Tyseley. It’s tyres had been turned to main line standard at Riley & Son (E) Ltd and a new axle had been made for one of the driving wheelset.