MANSTON RUNS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE SWANAGE RAILWAY - 14th September 2008

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 15th September 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running for the first time on the Swanage Railway on 14th September 2008.

An impressive Leviathan of steam that has taken more than four years and £750,000 to restore - from scrapyard condition to a fully working and gleaming locomotive - has run for the first time on the Swanage Railway.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied nearly 60 photos of this historic event. To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

The test run by unrebuilt Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 Manston happened on the third and final day of the annual grand steam gala and classic vehicle weekend on the relaid Purbeck Line.

The weather was hot and sunny on the morning of Sunday, 14 September 2008, when Manston departed Swanage coupled with Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 bound for Corfe Castle.

Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running for the first time on the Swanage Railway on 14th September 2008.

At the controls of Manston was Swanage Railway fitter and driver Graham Froud of Corfe Castle with fellow driver Ian McDavid acting as his fireman. Also on the footplate for the test run was the Swanage Railway locomotive, carriage and wagon manager James Cox.

With Manston leading at the Wareham end, the crew of Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 - built at Brighton in 1954 - was driver Kevin Martin and fireman Bill Crutcher.

The newly restored Bulleid Pacific - owned by Southern Locomotive Ltd - was put on to the booked light engine movement so that the gleaming 1940s 'spam can' locomotive could be given its first test run between Swanage, Herston Halt, Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride since emerging from the Swanage Railway's Herston engineering works on the outskirts of Swanage.

Southern Locomotive Ltd's unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific locomotive Manston running for the first time on the Swanage Railway on 14th September 2008.

Weighing in at 128 tons, Manston was built at Brighton and emerged from the town's locomotive works in November, 1947. She was withdrawn by British Railways in 1964 and despatched to the Barry scrapyard in south Wales. Manston was rescued from Barry in 1978.

At Corfe Castle, Manston and No. 80078 passes Victorian-designed M7 tank locomotive No. 30053 owned by the Drummond Locomotive Society. No. 30053 was at the helm of a Norden park and ride to Swanage train.

At Corfe Castle, Manston and No. 80078 passed Victorian-designed M7 tank locomotive No. 30053 owned by the Drummond Locomotive Society. No. 30053 was at the helm of a Norden park and ride to Swanage train.

After the M7 and its train had departed Corfe Castle for Harman's Cross, Manston and No. 80078 reversed into the goods yard at Corfe Castle in the shadow of the dramatic Medieval castle ruins.

At Corfe Castle, Manston and No. 80078 reverse into the goods yard.

Picking up a freight train and its guard Graham Cope, it was the first time that an unrebuilt 'spam can' Bulleid Pacific had shunted the goods yard at Corfe Castle since British Railways closed the goods yard in the autumn of 1965.

Once safely connected, Manston and No. 80078 drew the goods train out of the yard at Corfe Castle, through the 'up' platform and on to Norden park and ride.

Manston and No. 80078 hauls the goods train out of the yard at Corfe Castle, through the 'up' platform and on to Norden park and ride.

Returning, the goods train waited at the 'down' platform at Corfe Castle for Standard Class 4 tank No. 80104 to arrive from Harman's Cross with a Swanage to Norden park and ride train.

After being given the 'right away' by the signalman, No. 80078, Manston and their goods train trundled out of Corfe Castle bound for Swanage.

No. 80078, Manston and goods train leave Corfe Castle bound for Swanage via Harman's Cross.

A timeless scene and an historic one on that hot and sunny Sunday morning in September.

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