Eddystone returns at Swanage as 4MT bows out
SOUTHERN Railway West Country 4-6-2 No. 34028 Eddystone has returned to steam at the Swanage Railway following a £350,000 overhaul.
The rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific, owned by Southern Locomotives Ltd (SLL), underwent initial test steamings during the first week of May before venturing out onto the ‘Purbeck Line' for its first light engine running-in trials on May 10.
Loaded test runs followed on May 18, with No. 34028 hauling a train of five Bulleid and BR Mk 1 coaches plus a Class 33 diesel before it worked its first revenue-earning train on May 24, the 10.30am from Swanage to Norden (see centre spread).
SLL chairman Simon Troy described it as “pretty much perfect” – its replacement by visiting BR Standard 2MT No. 78018 the following day being the result of its boiler being over-filled with water, meaning that one of its injector clack valves required attention.
Shareholder support
The locomotive will remain resident in Dorset“for the foreseeable future”, said Simon: “Other railways are already asking to hire it for galas, but Swanage can't spare it!”
Eddystone last steamed in August 2014 when its previous 10-year boiler certificate expired, its initial restoration from Barry scrapyard condition having been completed in the spring of 2004.
After a period in store at Swanage, its overhaul commenced in 2016, with the boiler sent to the South Devon Railway and the frames to Tyseley Locomotive Works – but it has only been completed at the 'Purbeck Line's' Herston workshop this year thanks to the generosity of SLL's 700-plus shareholders.
With Covid-19 having reduced the income from hire fees of its other working locomotives, the group appealed to shareholders in January for £40,000 to help see it through the latest lockdown – and, in the event, raised nearly £50,000 by the end of March, allowing it to bring its employees off furlough. “If we hadn't done that, Eddystone wouldn't be running now, and we would have had to suspend work on our other locomotives,” said Simon.
SLL's air-smoothed Battle of Britain, No. 34070 Manston, is nearing the end of its 10-yearly overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works. It is expected to return to Herston for final completion in June or July, and to return to service in late summer or early autumn.
There was a setback for SLL in late May when its working ‘Spam Can', No. 34072 257 Squadron, was discovered to have a hole in its main internal steam pipe, which will require the removal of the superheater flues and some of the small tubes for a repair to be carried out.
“After the ecstasy with Eddystone, it was a real blow,” said Simon, “but we'll just have to raise the money to get it fixed.” It is hoped that it can be returned to traffic later this year.
Appeal for 4MT
The company also owns BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80104, which was withdrawn from service at Swanage on
May 11 at the end of its 10-year ticket, but could receive a swift overhaul and a return to service in just two years if an appeal for funds proves successful.
It is estimated that the work will cost around £200,000, but a Swanage Railway and SLL supporter – who wishes to remain anonymous – has offered to loan a “substantial sum” to SLL if other donors can raise £50,000.
In a statement to members, SLL explained: “When it is clear that we will reach this figure, or close to it, he will immediately match it and then proceed to loan SLL the entire balance of restoration costs, to be repaid when the locomotive is in traffic.”
If so, it is hoped that No. 80104 could be back in traffic on the ‘Purbeck Line' in time for the 2023 season.
It requires “major boiler surgery”, and parts to repair the firebox must be ordered now as there is an eight-month lead time. The sponsor, explained SLL, “has kindly agreed to buy shares to the value of these parts, so they can be used this year or at some point in the future if this appeal falls short.” In the latter scenario, the company will seek secure covered accommodation for the locomotive pending the overhaul.
An outside contractor is required because the next slot in SLL's own works schedule is already taken up by rebuilt West Country No. 34010 Sidmouth. The group is prioritising the ex-Barry scrapyard Bulleid Pacific because a large number of shareholders have already provided financial support for its restoration.
With No. 80104 having been in almost continuous service at Swanage since its first restoration from Barry condition was completed in 1997, Simon commented: “It's never had a full overhaul like it's going to get now – it's always been boiler or bottom end work, but this is the big one.”
➜ Donations can be sent to Southern Locomotives at 16 Arcadia Road, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent DA13 9EH, or to Barclays Bank account name ‘Southern Locomotives Ltd’, account number 90435678, sort code 20-9056 (please contact southernlocos@ btinternet.com when bank transfers are made).
➜ Prolific with Pacifics: feature - see pages 52-57.