Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone - Restoration

Boilersmith Dave Mitchell working on the firebox of Eddystone in Herston Works in November 2001

Our Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone pages are broken down as follows:

  Eddystone introduction

  Eddystone in regular service

  Eddystone Restoration

  Eddystone on the Swanage Railway

  Eddystone Gallery

Please select from the above links to view more information.

Eddystone was saved from the Woodham Bros. scrapyard at Barry by the Southern Pacific Rescue Group. It had listed defects such as cracked frames, wasted firebox, shot bearings, pitted boiler barrel, bent axles, asbestos contamination, etc etc.

Eddystone arrived at Sellindge from Barry on 26th April 1986, minus a lot of parts and no tender. To overcome this problem the group purchased a snowplough from Rail Track. Surplus tenders had been converted to snowploughs by BR and, although the frames were not the correct type for a Bulleid tender, it provided a source of axle-boxes and hornguides.

The locomotive was completely stripped down, allowing the frames to be grit blasted and painted, and a number of new or used parts were procured as funds became available. The wheelsets were sent to Swindon for machining and tyre turning and the axle-boxes were re-metalled and machined in preparation for the re-wheeling of the frames. Work was also carried out on the lubrication system prior to re-wheeling involving the installation of seemingly endless lengths of copper pipework and associated lubricators.

Eddystone's frames are re-wheeled on 13th September 1997

13th September 1997 saw Eddystone pass its first restoration milestone with the re-wheeling of the frames by use of a large crane. Eddystone reached another milestone in May 1998 when its boiler was craned back onto the frames.

During the spring of 1999, Eddystone became a 4-6-2 locomotive once more and the locomotive. was prepared for its journey to Swanage where the final stages of the restoration were to take place. The transfer took place on Sunday, 20th June 1999, with the locomotive left in the headshunt at Swanage until the restoration of 80078 had been completed and there was space in Herston Works.

On Friday, 1st October 1999, Eddystone was hauled from Swanage to Norden by a diesel shunter. There, it was transferred to the low-loader and taken by road to Herston Works. The team that had restored 80078 now turned their attentions to Eddystone.

Bulleid Pacific Eddystone being transported through Corfe Castle 1st October 1999

With Eddystone's boiler and wheels refitted to the frames in May 1998, work at Sellindge continued until Spring 1999 when Eddystone became a 4-6-2 locomotive once more and the locomotive. was prepared for its journey to Swanage for the final stages of the restoration.

The transfer took place on Sunday, 20th June 1999, with the locomotive left in the headshunt at Swanage until the restoration of 80078 had been completed and there was space in Herston Works.

On Friday, 1st October 1999, Eddystone was hauled from Swanage to Norden by a diesel shunter. There, it was transferred to the low-loader and taken by road to Herston Works. The team that had restored 80078 now turned their attentions to Eddystone.

On 29th September 2003, after 4 years more work, Eddystone left Herston works for final completion, testing and running in on the Swanage Railway.

West Country Class 34028 Eddystone reunited with its tender at the coaling stage next to the engine shed and turnable at Swanage awaiting its first load of coal following its rebuild on Friday 3rd October 2003 - photo courtesy John Rowley

The dedicated team of volunteers make final checks, lubricating the moving parts and correcting minor leaks as a head of steam is built up for the first time for Eddystone to move under its own power for the first time since 1964 on 4th October 2003.