33063
“R.J. Mitchell”
The group's flagship Crompton — named after the designer of the Spitfire and a regular performer on the Spa Valley Railway.
From Smethwick to the Spa Valley
Built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company at Smethwick, D6583 entered British Railways traffic on 6th January 1962 and spent its entire working life on the Southern Region, allocated variously to Hither Green, Eastleigh and Stewarts Lane.
Withdrawn in February 1997 and sold into preservation, 33063 was purchased by the South East Locomotive Group in January 2000. Restarted within six months of arrival at the East Kent Railway, she has been the group's front-line locomotive ever since — named 'R.J. Mitchell' in a ceremonial day at Tunbridge Wells West on 3rd September 2005.
33063 is currently operational in blue primer following extensive bodywork and roof repairs, and remains the group's front-line locomotive for running days and special events at the Spa Valley Railway.
British Rail service record
The locomotive’s working life on the Southern Region, compiled by group members from depot records and observations.
- Hither Green until 09/62
- Eastleigh from 09/62 until 10/67
- Hither Green from 10/67 until 24/11/85
- Stewarts Lane from 24/11/85
- Snowploughs fitted, SL 11/92
- ETH defective, 28/1/88 – 03/89
- ETH isolated, 25/7/90 – 31/10/91 and 09/92 – 02/95
- Headlight fitted, SL 07/91
- Cab radio/telephone fitted, SL 03/94
- Brunswick Green from new
- BR Blue until 03/89
- Railfreight Construction two-tone grey from 03/89 (unique NSE blue on Construction symbols from 09/91)
- Railfreight two-tone grey without Construction symbols, 04/95
- 'Mainline' logo applied, 07/95
- Red 73A plates applied to mid-cab, 07/90
- 11/5/87 Departmental · 07/87 Parcels · 16/5/88 DCSA · 2/10/88 FALS · 3/12/88 DWCQ
- 11/12/88 FALS · 22/01/89 FASB · 27/09/92 NKJR · 20/03/94 EWRB · 05/11/95 ENXX
- Intermediate Overhaul, Eastleigh (ZG) 4/83
- Intermediate Overhaul (CEM), Eastleigh (ZG) 3/89
- Sustained collision damage on 9th August 1991 when it struck a lorry on the Chatham Dockyard branch whilst working the 13.45 Chatham – Hoo Junction. Assessed at Stewarts Lane, repaired, and released back to traffic in September 1991.
- Stewarts Lane – 5/11/95
- Stewarts Lane – 13/2/97
- Initially stored at Stewarts Lane and placed on the EWS tender list in February 1997. Sold for preservation to Mike Biddell, Blue Triangle Buses, in March 1997 and moved by road to Rainham, Essex on 6th August 1997, later repainted into Blue Triangle red and cream house colours.
The SELG years
33063 was purchased by the South East Locomotive Group on 25th January 2000 and has been the group's most active locomotive throughout its time in preservation.