Original ‘WC’ nO. 21C123 BLACKMOOR VALE

Bluebell Railway-based No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale (original spelling) was the first ‘Light Pacific’ to return to steam - in May 1976 - and is the only one restored to Southern Railway condition. A group of ex-Nine Elms enginemen formed the Bulleid Preservation Society in 1966 to preserve a ‘Light Pacific’. Initially, the society was interested in ‘BBs’ Nos. 34066 Spitfire and 34086 219 Squadron, but they were withdrawn before the society really got going. By the time steam ended on the Southern Region, ‘WCs’ Nos. 34023 Blackmore Vale and 34102 Lapford were the only air-smoothed Bulleids in traffic. The former was purchased as it was deemed to be in better mechanical condition. No. 21C123 first lived at the Longmoor Military Railway, but soon moved to the Bluebell Railway when the scheme to re-open the LMR system fell through. The ‘Spam Can’ was withdrawn in May 2008 with leaking stays and a thin inner firebox plate. A new firebox is being fabricated at South Devon Railway Engineering, as part of a batch of five (including a spare) being built for Boscastle, Sir Archibald Sinclair and Hartland. This will be fitted to Blackmoor Vale at the Bluebell Railway once its overhaul is under way which, it is hoped, will commence in time to allow the locomotive to run with fellow Bluebell resident No. 34059 for the last two years of the latter’s boiler ticket.