‘Complete’ new-build Beachy Head rolls out at Bluebell – as ‘Radial’ and ‘B4’ roll in
ENTHUSIASTS GOT to see a complete Brighton ‘Atlantic’ for the first time since 1958 on March 6, when new-build LBSCR ‘H2’ No. 32424 Beachy Head was united with its tender for the first time.
The new-build Marsh 4-4-2, a replica of the original Beachy Head albeit using a spare Great Northern Railway ‘C1’ boiler, was mated with its tender during its transfer from Atlantic House – where the locomotive has been under construction since 2005 – to the Bluebell’s maintenance shed at Sheffield Park for final finishing work before it enters traffic later this year. This was the first time a complete ‘H2’ had been seen in Britain since April 1958, when the original Beachy Head – the last ‘Atlantic’ in BR service – was withdrawn and subsequently scrapped.
A date has yet to be set for No. 32424’s first steaming, as several jobs must be completed before the ‘Atlantic’ is ready. Brighton Atlantic Group spokesman David Jones told Steam Railway that the work outstanding includes “finishing off the painting and lining of the boiler barrel. We also have to replace four coil springs on the driving wheel axle as the ones in place are of the wrong stiffness. This will be done over the pit where Camelot is at the moment.
“The Westinghouse pump hinged covers have still to be fitted once the painting is complete. There is also still some pipework to finish in the cab, so we do not have a date for the first steaming yet.”
Replacing Beachy Head in Atlantic House are ex-LSWR ‘B4’ 0-4-0T No. 96 Normandy and Adams ‘Radial’ 4-4-2T No. 30583. Normandy moved in on March 5, taking the place previously occupied by Beachy Head’s tender, with the ‘Radial’ joining the Southampton Docks tank the following day once No. 32424 had been mated to its tender. Last steamed in 2006 and 1990 respectively, the overhauls of both locomotives will be carried out by the Brighton Atlantic Group after it decided to abandon its plans to build a replica SECR ‘E’ 4-4-0. Steam Railway understands work on Normandy will begin first, while No. 30583 undergoes an assessment to determine the extent of the work required to return it to steam.