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Everything you need to know about every preserved Bulleid ‘Light Pacific’
Few main line locomotives have fared as well in preservation as Oliver Bulleid’s ‘Light Pacifics’. With 20 examples preserved, no other class is in such abundance; only the LMS ‘Black Fives’ come close, with 18. Of the 20 Bulleids, all but four have returned to steam, and only ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34051 Winston Churchill is unlikely to steam again in the forseeable future. The ‘West Country’ and ‘BB’ 4‑6‑2s are synonymous with the end of steam on the Southern Region, and helped bring the curtain down on steam‑hauled express passenger services in this country. Coincidentally, 20 examples survived until July 9 1967 (see separate panel) but, in a bizarre twist of fate, only one made it into preservation ‑ No. 34023 Blackmore Vale. The other preserved ‘Light Pacifics’ were all withdrawn prior to the demise of Southern Region steam. Ostensibly two separate classes, the ‘WCs’ and ‘BBs’ were, as originally built, mechanically identical. Remove the nameplates, crests and numberplates and it would be impossible to tell them apart. A fairly even‑handed number of the two ‘classes’ has been preserved, with 11 of the former and nine of the latter. Where the locomotives do differ is in their respective as‑built and rebuilt forms. Again, fate has been kind in that ten of each have survived. Five ‘Light Pacifics’ have even ventured onto the main line over the years; Nos. 34016 Bodmin, 34027 Taw Valley, 34046 Braunton, 34067 Tangmere and 34092 City of Wells, but there’s no immediate prospect of any new names joining the 75mph registered pool. On July 9 this year, a total of seven ‘Light Pacifics’ will be in steam to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern steam, with a record‑ breaking five in action at the Swanage Railway’s ‘Strictly Bulleid’ gala on March 31‑April 2. Further ahead, there is a very real prospect that we will be able to enjoy ten operational ‘Light Pacifics’ in 2018, an achievement that is testament not only to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who run and maintain these locomotives, but also the popularity of engines that some would describe as Bulleid’s finest.