BR Standard Class 4 2 6 0 76084

British Railways service

76084 was outshopped from Horwich Works on 28 March 1957.

Designed with a light axle-loading of only 16 tons, this meant that the BR Standard 4's route availability of RA4 was unrestricted and was able to work on all regions throughout the UK. Batches of the class were allocated to every region except the Western. Like most of the class, the BR2A tender was fitted. This had a narrower upper bunker, giving better visibility when running tender-first. Class members allocated to the Southern region had the more capacious full-width BR1B tender, as the extra tank capacity was needed with the absence of water troughs on the Southern.

From new 76084 was allocated to Lower Darwen in March 1957 alongside sisters 76080/1/2 and 3, further transfers were to follow during her career to Lancaster Green Ayre, Skipton and even Springs Branch. 76084 even worked a number of holiday specials to the seaside, in days before many people owned a car train trips to the seaside proved extremely popular with people including a Bank Holiday in 1957 which a young member of what was to be her future preservation group travelled on. The person in question has had a long association with 76084 since her completion at Horwich Works.

76084 along with her other 4 sisters were transferred to Sutton Oak, St. Helens in March 1965 when Lower Darwen closed. All but 76082 were transferred to Springs Branch, Wigan in June 1967 when Sutton Oak too closed. Springs Branch was her final shed allocation where she was to remain until December 1967 when she was withdrawn from service. 76084 was taken to Barry Island in convoy with fellow preserved sister's 76077 and 76079.

Preservation

In October 1974 members of a preservation group from Sheffield spent a working weekend at Woodham Brothers scrapyard at Barry Island with a view to purchase 76084 for preservation. It was painted in red primer to prevent further corrosion, although it did stand out in the yard the preservation attempt failed and it was to remain at Barry Island for a further eight years until 1982. Over the years as space was becoming tight 76084 was moved down the siding right towards the buffers and as time passed it was stripped of various parts as Woodhams became a valuable source of steam locomotive spare parts. In 1982, it was purchased by a preservationist for £7,500. And in January 1983, 76084 left Woodhams for a new life in South Leverton near Retford, Nottinghamshire. It had spent fourteen years and four months in South Wales and was the 143rd locomotive to leave the yard.

It was placed in its owner's back garden and was given a cosmetic makeover. In the 1990s, its owner died and its future became uncertain. It was later purchased by what was to become the 76084 Locomotive Company and was moved to Morpeth where restoration was to be carried out.

76084 returned to steam in May 2013 and later returned to traffic in July 2013 after a sixteen-year restoration programme. It was later mainline certified in September 2016 and is due to operate its first mainline train in February 2017.