UNIQUE VICTORIAN STEAM LOCOMOTIVES FROM DORSET & THE ISLE OF WIGHT TO MAKE PRESERVATION HISTORY OVER THREE DAYS 25th - 27th MAY 2012

News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - updated 18th May 2012
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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Preservation history is to be made when two unique Victorian London and South Western Railway steam locomotives - one from the Isle of Wight and the other from Dorset - together haul passenger and freight trains on the Swanage Railway.

The special three-day all-Victorian steam event featuring 02 class tank locomotive No. W24 'Calbourne' from the Isle of Wight Railway and M7 class tank locomotive No. 53 from the Swanage Railway takes place from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 May, 2012 (inclusive).

It will be the first time in 88 years that the Victorian 'Calbourne' has left the Isle of Wight for a working visit to the mainland.

Throughout the Friday, 'Calbourne' will work an authentic Southern Region 1950s freight train while on the Saturday and Sunday, the Victorian locomotive built in 1891 will operate a two-train passenger service with fellow Victorian tank engine, M7 No. 53 built in 1905.

The two railway veterans will be hauling the final passenger train of the day on the Friday - a railway practise known as double-heading.

Swanage Railway commercial manager Martin Payne said: "This all-Victorian stream weekend will be the first time that two Victorian London and South Western Railway 0-4-4 wheel arrangement tank locomotives have worked together and it's unlikely to ever be repeated.

"Both the Isle of Wight Railway's 'Calbourne' and the Swanage Railway's M7 No. 53 are the only working examples of their locomotive class in preservation.

"This will be a very special and exciting event and we're very grateful to the Isle of Wight Railway for allowing its delightful locomotive to cross the Solent and spend three days working in Dorset," explained Mr Payne.

While 'Calbourne' hauls nostalgic freight trains on Friday, 25 May, 2012, M7 tank No. 53 and Southern Railway 1946-built West Country class Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 'Eddystone' will be hauling a two-train passenger train service with departures from Norden Park & Ride and Swanage every 40 minutes.

'Eddystone' will also be working driver experience trains on Saturday, 26 May, 2012, and hauling a Wessex Belle lunch train on Sunday, 27 May, 2012.

Swanage Railway deputy operations manager Matt McManus explained: "Built in 1891, No. W24 'Calbourne' is the sole survivor of a 60-strong class of steam locomotives and first operated from the Fratton depot near Portsmouth and then Exeter for the London and South Western Railway before the formation of the Southern Railway in 1923.

"There was a shortage of steam locomotives on the Isle of Wight by the early 1920s and the situation was becoming desperate but, luckily, it was the electrification of the mainland suburban railway that came to the rescue.

"The electrification meant newer and more powerful steam locomotives, such as the M7s and the T1s, could replace the 02s in their rural strongholds such as the Swanage branch - with several 02s becoming surplus to requirements.

"Two of these spare 02 steam locomotives were equipped with Westinghouse air brake systems at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire so they could work with coaching stock on the Isle of Wight," explained Matt.

The two modified 02 class steam locomotives were shipped across the Solent to the Isle of Wight in 1923 and trialled extensively on railway services across the Island - particularly the intensive Ryde to Ventnor services where the locomotives were highly successful.

Shipped to the Isle of Wight in April, 1925, London and South Western Railway 02 No. 209 was allocated the Island number W24 and given the name 'Calbourne' after a pretty village on the Island.

Both the Southern Railway and the new British Railways, formed in 1948, continued to send 02 class steam locomotives across the Solent to the Isle of Wight until 1949, by which time the total numbered 23.

From 1960, the 02s became the only class of locomotives to haul trains on the Island and worked all trains until December, 1966, when most of the system was closed and a small remaining section electrified.

W24 'Calbourne' was bought by the Wight Locomotive Society in March, 1967, which moved its headquarters to Havenstreet in 1971 and later became the highly successful Isle of Wight Railway.

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.

Downloadable conveniently-sized 3-page enthusiasts' working timetable for 25th-27th May 2012. Click here or on the image.

Downloadable conveniently-sized timetable for 25th May 2012. Click here or on the image.

Downloadable conveniently-sized timetable for 26th May 2012. Click here or on the image.

Downloadable conveniently-sized timetable for 25th May 2012. Click here or on the image.

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