West Country Class 34028 Eddystone reunited with tender at Swanage

Photo report from John Rowley - 3rd October 2003
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John Rowley has sent us this photograph of West Country Class 34028 Eddystone at Swanage on Friday 3rd October. Eddystone can be seen reunited with its tender at the coaling stage next to the engine shed and turnable at Swanage awaiting its first load of coal. It is expected to take approximately another month for the final touches to be applied to the locomotive following its major rebuild.

The locomotive was transfered to Swanage from Herston Works by road via Norden earlier in the week. (See the revised illustrated news item with 9 photos of the transfer by clicking here).

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, culminating in the passing of the steam test on 24th July. To see photos of this milestone event please click here. (To see a progress news item from December 2001, please click here. To see a photo of the locomotive passing through Corfe Castle by road in 1999, please click here).