Tangmere undertakes successful first test run
BRIGHTON-BUILT Bulleid Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere has returned to the main line after a five-year absence.
Following a heavy overhaul, Tangmere suddenly appeared in public from behind closed doors at Carnforth and steamed with a support coach around West Coast Railways’ proving circuit to Hellifield on October 6. The test run reportedly went to plan, and a loaded test run was set to take place after Heritage Railway closed for press.
Withdrawn from service in 2016, the former Barry scrapyard locomotive then had a main line certificate which was valid until 2018, and its boiler certificate ran up to 2021.
Long restoration
Outshopped in September 1947, named after the RAF Fighter Command airfield near Chichester and given the number 21C167, it was condemned at Exmouth Junction shed in September 1963. It had covered only 588,269 miles while in service.
In April 1965, it was sent to Dai Woodham’s scrapyard, where it stayed until January 1981, when it was taken to the Mid-Hants Railway’s Ropley Works for restoration.
However, it was not until 1995 that work to return the locomotive to traffic began.
Progress was slow, mainly due to the expenses involved, but when local businessman Brian Pickett agreed to sponsor the locomotive, it was sent to Ian Riley’s works at Bury.
Early in 2003 Tangmere was returned to steam on the adjacent East Lancashire Railway, and made its heritage era main line comeback that March.
Brian then brought the Bulleid back south and set up his own tour operating company, Wessex Trains. Unfortunately he passed away after running a handful of tours, the 4-6-2 returning to Bury and Ian’s care.
Changing hands
After the Bulleid’s short period back up north, West Coast Railway Company bought Tangmere and based it at
Southall, from where it covered thousands of miles across Southern routes and occasionally beyond.
Tangmere stood in for No. 35028 Clan Line when the rebuilt Merchant Navy was stopped for its annual maintenance at Stewarts Lane, No. 34067 working the then Sea Containers ‘British Pullman.’