One of over 300 of her type built by the Great Western Railway, ‘Raveningham Hall’ was ideal for mixed traffic work, capable of hauling both passenger and freight trains across the Western Region. She was built by GWR in 1944 and initially based at Old Oak Common in London, and would have worked stopping passenger trains from London to places like Reading, Oxford and Birmingham. She was retired after 20 years of service in June 1964 and sent to Barry Scrapyard in South Wales. In 1972 ‘Raveningham Hall’ left Barry for Carnforth where her first restoration commenced, and in 1975 she returned to steam on the Severn Valley Railway. In 1996 she left the SVR and changed owners. Between 2009 and 2012 she was restored to running condition and returned to steam. Since late 2021, she has been based at Margate pending restoration and recertification for main line work.

Photos by: 1 - Frank Martin, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Robert Bester