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SR Battle of Britain class 34053 Sir Keith Park is a Southern Railway Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive that currently resides at the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire/Shropshire

Career
Built at Brighton Works in 1947, it was named by its namesake at Brighton on 19th Spetember 1947. 34053 allocated to Salisbury MPD but spent considerable time on loan to Stewarts Lane depot, where it was recorded hauling the heavy Continental boat expresses, including the Golden Arrow on many occasions. Following brief spells at Nine Elms and Exmouth Junction, it returned to Salisbury in 1951 working over the entire South Western network.

Rebuilding occured in 1958 and the loco remain at Salisbury until 1960 when it was transfered to Bournemouth where it remained till withdrawal.

Preservation
After its arrival at Barry in March 1966, it was 13 years before it was sold and another 5 before it moved intially to Hull in view for restoration. Unfortunatley the owner died in 1992 and the loco was subsequently sold on and move initally to Crewe in 1992. However it was then moved to Thingley Junction (west of Chippenham) in 1995 and little work was carried out on it. In 1997 it was sold to Jeremy Hoskings and moved to the West Somerset Railway to provide spares for 34046 'Braunton'. 34053 was then deemed surplus to requirements after the boiler was found to be in poor condition than 34046's. Southern Locomotive Limited were offered first refusal on 34053 and it was able to purchase the remaining locomotive which was missing muany of its components including both its front bogie and pony truck.

Restoration took from 2001 to 2012 with work pace increasing after 2008 with the completion of 34070 freeing up space at the SLL's Helston works. In addition to a replacement bogie and pony truck, a new tender was built. After completion in May 2012, 34053 was moved to the Severn Valley Railway where final commissioning and testing occurred leading to 34053 entering service in August. In 2016, it will make it's first trips away from the SVR since returning to service.