Exciting news for Cambrian Heritage Railways as Class 73 73129, formerly E6036, has arrived at its new home.

The locomotive’s new owner has relocated it to the CHR, and the railway is looking forward to 73129 complementing their motive power department, especially as they extend to Weston Wharf.

Cambrian Heritage Railway is based at Llynclys and Oswestry in Shropshire. The Cambrian Railways Trust and Cambrian Railways Society merged in 2009 to become Cambrian Heritage Railways and reinstate the infrastructure needed to operate trains from Gobowen to Lynclys Junction.

CHR also runs Cambrian Railways Museum at Oswestry Station which was formerly part of a goods depot.

The museum includes railway artefacts including photography, signs, signal box fittings and lamps and are all part of the historic Cambrian Railways. The railway runs trains on a short stretch of line in Oswestry and also uses the former goods sheds as an engine and rolling stock restoration point. 

73129 was built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows in 1966 and was originally outshopped numbered as E6036 but was renumbered 73129 some years later.

Throughout most of her life, 73129 was used on passenger service by British Rail in the southern region on InterCity, Network SouthEast and Gatwick Express services. Between 1982 and 2003, 73129 was named City of Winchester before being withdrawn by EWS in 2003.

The locomotive was sent to Booths Scrapyard in Rotherham, South Yorkshire for scrap but was then purchased for preservation and moved to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway, where she was restored to operate passenger and permanent way trains.

Here are some facts about the Class 73 Locomotive:

• Power type: Electro-diesel
• 73/0s: Built by British Rail at Eastleigh Works
• 73/1s: Built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows
• Built date, 1962-1967
• Total Produced: 49
• Wheel configuration: Bo-Bo
• Electric Systems: 660-750 V DC Third Rail
• Electric Power Output: 1,420HP
• Diesel Engine: English Electric 4SRKT Mk II
• Diesel Power Output: 600HP
• Max Speed 73/0: 80MPH
• Max Speed 73/1: 90MPH
• Nickname: EDs
• Numbered Preserved: 6

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