MIGHTY BULLEID PACIFIC MANSTON ENTERS SERVICE ON THE SWANAGE RAILWAY - 31st October 2008

Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 2nd November 2008
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
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Manston approaches the viaduct at Corfe Castle heading for Norden park and ride.

A mighty Southern Railway designed Bulleid Pacific express steam locomotive that has taken more than four years and £750,000 to restore from a rusting scrapyard condition has entered service on the Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 100 photos of this historic event. To see the full set of photos, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Manston with the 'up' train seen crossing the viaduct at Corfe Castle heading for Norden park and ride.

Weighing 128 tons, with a water capacity of 4,500 gallons - and a tender that can carry up to five tons of coal - Southern Railway Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34070 Manston has been restored by Southern Locomotives Ltd at the Swanage Railway’s Herston engineering works on the outskirts of Swanage.

On the footplate of the freshly restored Manston driver Graham Froud of Corfe Castle with fireman Matt McManus of Corfe Mullen

With a tractive effort of just over 31,000 lbs and a boiler pressure of 280 lb per square inch, Manston hauled the last three service trains on Friday 31st October 2008 - the 1.50pm, 3.10pm and 4.30pm from Swanage during the Swanage Railway's autumn half term family fun week.

Almost 70 feet long and with giant six feet two inch driving wheels, the Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacifics - known as ‘spam cans’ because of their futuristic air-smoothed casing over the boiler - hauled prestigious express trains between London, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth as well as London, Salisbury and Exeter between the mid-1940s and 1967.

On the footplate of the freshly restored Manston raising steam for the day ahead.

Between the early 1950s and 1966, the Bulleid Pacifics - both the air-smoothed variety and those modified by R.G. Jarvis during the mid-1950s when they had their air smoothed casing removed for efficiency maintenance reasons - hauled through London trains down to Corfe Castle and Swanage.

In the summer of 1967, Bulleid Pacifics hauled the last three enthusiast 'end of steam' special trains down to Corfe Castle and Swanage - on 7th May, 11th June and 18th June, 1967. The footplate crew for Manston's first timetabled train since it was withdrawn by British Railways in the summer of 1964 was driver Graham Froud of Corfe Castle with Matt McManus of Corfe Mullen as his fireman.

Gleaming Manston gets a final polish at Swanage station on 26th October 2008.

Manston was the last light Pacific to be numbered using Bulleid's unusual system and it emerged from Brighton Works in November 1947 as 21C70. It was the last locomotive to be built by the Southern Railway before Nationalisation.

For the historically minded, Manston was the last Bulleid Pacific to be numbered using Oliver Bulleid's unusual system and it emerged from Brighton Works in November 1947 as No. 21C70.

Manston was the last locomotive to be built by the Southern Railway before nationalisation by the Government into British Railways during 1948. Once in British Railways ownership, Manston was renumbered No. 34070.

Manston approaching Harman's Cross and later at Corfe Castle on 26th October 2008.

With its versatile 18-ton axle loading, an all-steel welded boiler, chain-driven valve gear, inside motion enclosed in an oil bath and ‘air-smoothed’ casing, Manston was initially allocated to Ramsgate for duty on the main line services to London. Its power classification for passenger work was seven and for freight work it was five.

Manston leaves Corfe Castle for Norden on 26th October 2008.

Initially allocated to Ramsgate for duty on the main line services to London and on 31st May 1948, Manston had the distinction of working the inaugural Thanet Belle Pullman train between Ramsgate and Victoria.

In 1950, No. 34070 was transferred to Stewarts Lane shed for work on the important Eastern Section services to Folkestone and Dover as well as the Central Section services to Brighton.

Manston leaving Swanage station in the fading light on 26th October 2008.

In 1955, Manston was moved to Dover where it was used on the Continental boat trains - including the Night Ferry.

But, the completion of the Kent Coast electrification in May 1961 meant that there was no longer any suitable work at Dover and it was transferred back to Stewarts Lane and then to its last shed, Exmouth Junction.

Manston at Corfe Castle in twilight and back at Swanage station as darkness falls on 26th October 2008.

In common with the other Exmouth Junction based locomotives, Manston worked over the Southern's extensive system in Devon and North Cornwall, as well as the main line between Exeter and Salisbury.

No. 34070 was finally withdrawn by British Railways in August 1964 and sent for scrap to Woodham's at Barry in south Wales.

Manston remained at the Barry scrapyard for 18 years before being purchased by the Manston Locomotive Preservation Society.

Manston's driver Graham Froud of Corfe Castle with fireman Matt McManus of Corfe Mullen back at Swanage in the darkness of the evening of 26th October 2008.

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