MANSTON PASSES BOILER INSPECTION AND RUNS UNDER ITS OWN POWER AT SWANAGE - 11th September 2008

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 11th September 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running under its own power for the first time since 1964 at Swanage on 11th September 2008.

History has been made with newly restored Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 Manston running at Swanage on 11th September 2008 under its own power for the first time since the summer of 1964 and the last day that the massive steam locomotive worked for British Railways at Exmouth Junction in Devon.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 40 photos of this historic event. To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

It was late this afternoon, Thursday, that Manston successfully passed its insurance steam test in the presence of boiler inspector Ian Farrance on the coal dock at Swanage.

Commissioning work is still taking place on the unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive.

On Saturday and Sunday - the steam gala - it's hoped to have Manston running under its own steam in the station limits at Swanage while commissioning work continues.

Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston stands alongside the Swanage Railway's BR Standard Class 4 No 80078 at Swanage on 11th September 2008.

Weighing 128 tons and with a water capacity of 4,500 gallons and a tender that can carry up to five tons of coal, Manston was rescued from the Barry scrapyard in South Wales 30 years ago - after languishing there for 18 years - and has cost £750,000 to restore to full working order.

With a tractive effort of just over 31,000 lbs and a boiler pressure of 280 lb per square inch, it is hoped to have Manston in light steam - and on display at Swanage station - for this weekend's Swanage Railway's annual Grand Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally which runs from Friday to Sunday, 12 to 14 September, 2008, inclusive.

Frank Mead, the Swanage Railway's deputy locomotive, carriage and wagon manager, climbs down from the footplate watched by Swanage Railway fitter Graham Froud. Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running under its own power for the first time since 1964 at Swanage on 11th September 2008.

It is hoped that the annual steam gala will feature the Swanage Railway's four resident steam locomotives - Victorian-designed M7 tank No. 30053, West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ from the late 1940s and two ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tanks built at Brighton in the mid-1950s, No. 80078 and No. 80104.

Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running under its own power for the first time since 1964 at Swanage on 11th September 2008.

Grand Steam Gala and Vintage Transport Rally rover tickets giving unlimited train travel on the day of issue - as well as free entry to the Vintage Transport Rally - are £18 for adults, £15 for children and concessions, and £42 for families (two adults and three children.) Greater discounts apply if passengers purchase two-day or three-day rover tickets.

To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.