SWANAGE MAN DRIVES FIRST 1940s BULLEID PACIFIC STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TO LONDON'S EUSTON STATION SINCE 1948!

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 29th November 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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Tangmere at London's Euston station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

A Swanage man has made history by driving a classic Bulleid Pacific express steam locomotive into London's Euston station for the first time since 1948 - when the last Olympic Games was staged in the Capital.

See below for a selection of photos from Andrew P.M. Wright showing the historic activities on 26th November 2011.

Veteran Dorset railwayman Mel Cox was at the controls of the mighty 87-ton restored Southern Railway Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific No. 34067 'Tangmere' named after a South of England 1940s Battle of Britain airfield.

Swanage Railway's Operations Manager and driver Mel Cox and Swanage Railway volunteer guard Bob Burt with Tangmere at London's Euston station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

The steam train's trip up to the north London terminal station also made a second piece of history - it was the first time ever that a Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific, known as a Light Pacific, had ever run into Euston station.

A part-time driver for West Coast Railways, Mel Cox explained: "It was an amazing run up the main line to London and a real thrill to drive 'Tangmere' under the overhead electric lines into Euston station. The locomotive performed faultlessly and was like a finely oiled sewing machine.

Tangmere arrives at London's Euston station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

"It was not only the first time since 1948 that a Bulleid Pacific class steam locomotive has run into Euston but also the first time ever that a Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific - known as a Light Pacific - has ever run into the north London terminal station.

"There was a lot of interest from railway enthusiasts and members of the public at stations along the line as we steamed up the main line to London. Train drivers often sounded their horns as we passed and some of the looks from startled passengers on modern electric trains were amusing.

"To drive a steam locomotive designed during the Second World War - and then restored from a rusting hulk dumped in a south Wales scrapyard - was a real thrill and a very great privilege," explained Mel who is also the operations manager on the Swanage Railway.

Tangmere is readied for departure at Swanage station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

Also on the special charter train was Swanage Railway guard Bob Burt who grew up in London and went train spotting at Euston station as a child during the 1950s. He now lives in Swanage.

Bob said: "I was in charge of the train from Swanage to Motala - where the Swanage Railway ends and the national railway network begins - and stayed on the train all the way up the main line to London's Euston station.

Tangmere at Bournemouth station during the return journey to Swanage on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

"It was a fantastic trip - to see and hear 'Tangmere' performing at its best on the main line to London was marvellous. I never thought I'd ever see a Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific at Euston station," he explained.

Growing up in Bournemouth, Mel Cox has been a professional railwayman since the early 1960s. He was a cleaner and fireman at Bournemouth station's motive power depot during the final years of steam.

With the end of steam-hauled trains in southern England during early July 1967, Mel switched to working on diesel trains - first as a second man (driver's assistant) and then as a fully fledged driver.

Tangmere safely returned at Swanage station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

Mel worked as a fireman on steam trains between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage from the mid-1960s; also working on the line when it switched to diesel trains between 1966 and until the end of the Purbeck branch in 1972.

Named after a West Sussex Second World War airfield, 'Tangmere' departed Swanage station with the 500-ton eleven-coach Capital Christmas express charter train at 8am on Saturday, 26 November, 2011, for its five-hour historic run to Euston station.

Tangmere safely returned at Swanage station on 26th November 2011 - Photograph Andrew P.M. Wright

With more than 400 passengers on the special train, 'Tangmere' steamed into London with the first ever Swanage to Euston train just after 1pm.

Southern Railway Merchant Navy class Bulleid Pacific steam locomotives worked into Euston as part of the 1948 locomotive exchange performance trials on the Midland Region of the newly nationalised British Railways.

Swanage Railway service details are available from the Swanage Railway on 01929 425800 - or by following the links in the index on the left of this page.

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

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