LONDON 'RAILWAY CHILDREN' LOCOMOTIVE ARRIVES TO STAR IN SWANAGE RAILWAY STEAM GALA - Gala dates: Friday 9th to Sunday 11th September 2011

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 7th September 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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Great Northern Railway N2 class No. 1744 with the road transporter at Norden on 6th September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

An historic 1920s London steam locomotive that appeared in the classic 1970 film 'The Railway Children' has arrived on the Swanage Railway for a short seaside holiday when it stars in this weekend's three-day, seven locomotive Grand Steam Gala 9th - 11th September 2011.

The Swanage Railway's official photographer & press officer Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied numerous photos of Great Northern Railway N2 class No. 1744 arriving at Norden late yesterday, Tuesday, and passing through Corfe Castle en route to Swanage - towed by Class 33 diesel No. D6515 - this morning, Wednesday. The Corfe Castle signalman on duty was Gordon Bartlett and the Class 33 driver was deputy operations manager Matt McManus. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view all the photos.

Hauled by Class 33 diesel No. D6515, Great Northern Railway N2 class No. 1744 arrives at Corfe Castle station with the picturesque ruins of Corfe Castle in the background as signalman Gordon Bartlett exchanges tokens with the Class 33 driver, deputy operations manager Matt McManus on 7th September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Great Northern Railway N2 class tank No. 1744 will be joining A4 class express steam locomotive No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' - and the Swanage Railway's five resident main line steam locomotives - for the annual event which takes to the rails of the relaid Purbeck Line between Friday, 9 September and Sunday, 11 September, 2011 (inclusive).

Built in 1921 and withdrawn by British Railways in 1962, commuter train-hauling No. 1744 arrived at the Swanage Railway's Norden station road/rail interchange from the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire just after 5pm on Tuesday, 6th September 2011.

Owned by the Gresley Society, the N2 was towed to Swanage - via Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross and Herston Halt - on the morning of Wednesday, 7th September 2011, by Class 33 diesel-electric locomotive No. D6515 driven by the Swanage Railway's deputy operations manager Matt McManus.

The signalman on duty at Corfe Castle when the move took place was Gordon Bartlett with the signalmen at Harman's Cross and Swanage being Keith Macdonald and Phil Eakins, respectively.

Great Northern Railway N2 class No. 1744 at Corfe Castle station with the picturesque ruins of Corfe Castle in the background on 7th September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, N2 class 0-6-2 wheel arrangement steam locomotive No. 1744 was built for the Great Northern Railway in 1921 by the North British Locomotive Company at its Hyde Park works in Glasgow, Scotland. Its works number was 22600.

Throughout its 40 year operational life hauling packed commuter trains in and out of north London, the N2 was based at King's Cross station and was fitted with a large condensing pipe so the steam locomotive could operate in railway tunnels such as at Moorgate.

Equipped with side water tanks and a rear coal bunker, the 71-ton steam locomotive was designed for hauling commuter trains in the suburban areas of north London and the N2 class worked most of the trains out of King's Cross.

Often hauling one or two sets of articulated suburban coaches, the N2 steam locomotives ran to New Barnet and Gordon Hill on the Hertford loop and often hauled empty coaching stock trains between King's Cross and the Ferme Park carriage sidings. Some of the N2s - such as No. 1744 - worked on the Metropolitan line between King's Cross and Moorgate.

When withdrawn from British Railways at King's Cross station during September 1962 - the year of the Cuban missile crisis when the United States of America and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war - the N2 was replaced by diesel locomotives, such as the 'Baby Deltics', and then by diesel multiple units.

Inside Corfe Castle station's new 'Victorian' signal box with signalman Gordon Bartlett on 7th September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

Purchased for preservation in September, 1963, N2 No. 1744 is visiting the Swanage Railway from the Great Central Railway at Loughborough in Leicestershire, courtesy of the Gresley Society. No. 1744 spent a decade on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the locomotive sports letter and number transfers that include real gold leaf.

Painted in a fictional Great Northern and Southern Railway livery, N2 No. 1744 appeared in the 1970 hit film 'The Railway Children' as the locomotive hauling the 'Scotch Flyer' express train.

Directed by the late Lionel Jeffries, the 'The Railway Children' was filmed on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in north Yorkshire and starred Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett and Bernard Cribbins.

A signalman's view from inside Corfe Castle station's new 'Victorian' signal box of the departing light engine movement from Norden heading for Swanage on 7th September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

The three-day Grand Steam Gala starting on Friday, 9 September 2011, will feature an intensive steam-hauled train service between Norden 'park and ride', Corfe Castle, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage every 40 minutes between 9am and 6pm - including steam trains on hauled by the N2 and the A4 on the Friday and Saturday evenings until just before 11pm.

Alongside the Grand Steam Gala, there will be a three-day Classic Vehicle Rally with exhibits, stalls and refreshments next to Harman's Cross station organised by the Poole and Bournemouth Preservation Club.

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "It is very special to have two Sir Nigel Gresley-designed steam locomotives starring in our Grand Steam Gala so the event will have a distinctly London and North Eastern Railway theme with the sleek and streamlined A4 express locomotive and the shorter and stockier N2 tank which has hauled hundreds of thousands of commuter trains in and out of London across 40 years.

Also starring in the three-day Grand Steam Gala starting on Friday, 9 September 2011, will be A4 Pacific No. 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand' seen at Corfe Castle station with the new 'Victorian' signal box in the background on 1st September 2011. Photo Andrew P.M. Wright.

"But, there will still be a strong London and South Western Railway, Southern Railway and British Railways Southern Region presence during the Grand Steam Gala with the Swanage Railway's five resident steam locomotives also taking part in the busy event - M7 No. 53 of 1905, the two 1940s Bulleid Pacifics, No. 34070 'Manston' and No. 34028 'Eddystone', as well as Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 of 1955.

"The Great Western Railway is also represented at the Grand Steam Gala with our 0-6-2 tank No. 6695 built in the late 1920s so there will be a region and an era to please everyone. The event is one not to be missed and an ideal opportunity to enjoy classic steam trains as well as classic road vehicles.

"There will be steam-hauled 'Wessex Belle' Bistro dining trains on the Friday and Saturday evenings of the Grand Steam Gala while the normal Friday and Saturday evening steam train services will include a buffet serving snacks, local beers, ciders and other drinks.

"While booking is not normally essential for the evening 'Wessex Belle' Bistro dining trains, it is recommended for the two Grand Steam Gala services because of their popularity," explained Mr Payne.

The three-day Classic Vehicle Rally next to Harman's Cross station features a huge array of classic road transport - motorcycles, cars, lorries, tractors and stationary engines - and includes stalls, a bar and refreshments as well as live entertainment on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Advance booking for one, two or three-day Grand Steam Gala Rover tickets - giving unlimited daytime train travel - is available as well as combined tickets covering entrance to the Classic Vehicle Rally next to Harman's Cross station.

Details of the Swanage Railway's steam and diesel train services - as well as special events - are available by following the menu links on the left of this page or by calling 01929 425800.

To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph to view a full size version, and then click on CLOSE or 'x' on your keyboard to close it and return to this page.

The photos on this page can also be viewed as a slideshow - just click on any image and then click on the enlarged to continue scrolling through the photos - Next and Previous links on the right and left of the photos - or use the CLOSE link or 'x' on your keyboard to exit