West Country Class 34028 Eddystone passes steam test on 24th July

Photo Report from Steve Whittingstall - 26th July 2003
Photographs are copyright Steve Whittingstall unless otherwise credited. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

Steve Whittingstall has provided us with news and photographs of an historic development this week at the Herston Works on the Swanage Railway.

Bulleid West Country Class 34028 Eddystone in full steam at 12:15 on 24th July 2003 at Herston Works on the Swanage Railway - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

At approximately 17.15 on Wednesday 23rd of July 2003 the Bulleid West Country Class Locomotive 34028 Eddystone had the first fire lit in its boiler since 1964 in preparation for its steam test on the following day, Thursday 24th July 2003.

Bulleid West Country Class 34028 Eddystone at full steam on the 24th of July 2003 for the first time since 1964 - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

The boiler reached full steam at 12:15 on Thursday, and these photos show the safety valve lifting and steam venting for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Pete Pickering lighting the first fire since 1964 in Bulleid West Country Class 34028 Eddystone on the 23rd of July 2003 - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

The steam test was passed successfully, and is a significant step along the way to the return of the locomotive to active service later this summer. The boiler work had been delayed to allow the teams of volunteers to overhaul and return to service BR Standard Class Four 80104 before the busy Easter period.

The Sellindge team that has been working on Eddystone - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

Here we see photos of the two teams of volunteers working on the Locomotive, the first from Sellinge in Kent and the second based at Herston Works. The restoration of Eddystone was originally started at Sellinge but moved to Swanage in November 1999. Steady progress has been made since then thanks to the efforts of the dedicated teams of volunteers. (To see a full description of the locomotive on its arrival at Swanage in 1999 please click here. To see the locomotive passing through Corfe Castle by road in 1999 on its way to Herston Works, please click here. For the progress news item from December 2001, please click here).

The Herston Works team that has been working on Eddystone - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

These photographs show Eddystone being hauled from inside Herston Works into the inclement weather where the fire was lit and the name plate refitted. The nameplate had been especially cleaned for the occasion by Mike and Steve Whittingstall

Eddystone's freshly cleaned and fitted nameplate - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

During work at Sellinge in 1986, some coal found in Eddystone's fire box and preserved for this historic occasion was added to the fire after the steam test was passed.

Coal found in Eddystone's fire box at Sellinge in 1986 is added to the firebox - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.

Eddystone outside Herston Works after its steam test on 24th July 2003 - photo copyright Steve Whittingstall.