Swanage aims for record SIX Bulleids

Gala is shaping up to be a great gathering of Southern Region ‘Pacifics’.

TWO VISITING ‘Spam Cans’ will complete the Swanage Railway’s dream of fielding at least five Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ at once - and there are hopes of adding a sixth.

The March 30-April 2 ‘Strictly Bulleid’ gala will welcome City of Wells and 92 Squadron, joining classmate Manston and rebuilt guests Sir Keith Park and Braunton. The line’s general manager, Matt Green, told Steam Railway that the railway might field another Bulleid 4-6-2 at the gala, subject to available finances. Although he did not disclose which locomotive was being considered, the options are limited as the only other available working Bulleids are ‘West Country’ No. 34027 Taw Valley and the sole in-traffic ‘Merchant Navy’, No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. (‘MN’ No. 35018 British India Line has recently made its first moves at Carnforth). Making its first foray to the Southern for nearly 30 years is ‘West Country’ No. 34092 City of Wells, visiting from the East Lancashire Railway; the ‘Spam Can’ has not visited its former home region since 1988, and is due to appear alongside its Malachiteliveried classmate, No. 34081 92 Squadron, which has recently returned to steam (see separate story). Nene Valley Railway-based No. 34081 will become a familiar sight at other railways’ 1967-themed events, as it is due to appear at the Nene Valley, Severn Valley and Mid-Hants Railways’ galas. 92 Squadron last visited Swanage in 2007, albeit in BR Brunswick green. Making its debut on the Swanage Railway is ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34053 Sir Keith Park. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the locomotive as, although the 4-6-2 has been a Severn Valley Railway resident since it was returned to steam in 2012, it was restored by Southern Locomotives Ltd, based at the Swanage Railway’s Herston works. The fourth visiting

locomotive will be rebuilt ‘WC’ No. 34046 Braunton, which will remain in its current guise as longscrapped classmate and 1967 veteran No. 34052 Lord Dowding. The pairing of Nos. 34052 and 34053 It’s been ten years since so many Bulleid 4-6-2s were running together on one railway. At the Bluebell Railway’s event on October 19-21 2007, ‘West Countries’ Nos. 34007 Wadebridge, 21C123 Blackmore Vale and 34028 Eddystone line up with ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34081 92 Squadron at Horsted Keynes station on October 19. Only one of this line-up - 92 Squadron - will be in attendance on the Purbeck line. JON BOWERS will be the first time a pair of consecutively numbered Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ have run together since the 1960s. Although the three-day event will mark No. 34052’s debut hauling revenueearning trains over the branch, it has visited Purbeck before, when it was stabled overnight on November 12/13 last year, ahead of hauling the return leg of the RTC Three Bridges-Weymouth ‘Royal Wessex’ railtour. Swanage Railway resident ‘BB’ No. 34070 Manston, now in its final year before overhaul, completes the five-strong line-up. After withdrawal, No. 34070 will be replaced in the Swanage fleet by classmate No. 34072 257 Squadron, now in the final stretch of its overhaul. It had been hoped to have No. 34072 ready in time to attend the gala, but its return to steam has been delayed by ongoing work to its inside cylinder.