As I write this on a rather drab Sunday morning, we are rapidly approaching the end of so-called 'Dry January' - mind you, ever since the start of the year, there has been very little in the way of dryness, no thanks to a pretty much never ending onslaught of rain. I did contemplate participating in 'Dry January', however, after all of about 10 seconds this thought was kicked well and truly down the platform. Personally, I've never seen the appeal of it, particularly during what many consider to be one of the most depressing and challenging months of the year. In railway parlance, we might as well refer to January as "The Long Drag". If you were thinking of taking a month off the sauce, then 'Sober October' seems to be a much better option in my view. Anyway, we appear to be digressing somewhat, so I'd better get us back on the right track as it were, it's enough to drive you to drink. Time is rapidly ticking along and we'll soon be up and running once again.
The title and opening photograph are a bit of a giveaway, but for those of you who may not follow our social media feeds, the important news is that we'll be having a certain 'Flat Top' visiting us from late April - A worthy substitute for 35006. After all, we've got to keep Bulleid steam alive on this railway in one way or another. I can hear the sharpening of GWR branded pitchforks in the distance as I speak! On a more serious note, and as previously mentioned, we only have three serviceable steam locomotives at present, therefore any additional traction regardless of region is certainly welcome.
We are delighted to share the news that Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class No. 34070 Manston will be visiting the Cotswolds from the end of April until early July. Which means that it will feature in our Cotswold Festival of Steam gala in May! This much-loved Bulleid Pacific will be in action during its stay, offering plenty of opportunities to see and hear this classic Southern locomotive at work. Our sincere thanks go to the Swanage Railway and the locomotive’s owners, Southern Locomotives Ltd, for making this visit possible. Further details about the CFoS gala will be shared soon - we can’t wait to welcome Manston to the Cotswolds! Photo © Martyn Tattam
Locomotive 34070 is part of the 110-strong ‘West Country’ and ‘Battle of Britain’ classes of Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ locomotives, designed by O.V.S. Bulleid and introduced in 1944. These three-cylinder engines were a lighter adaptation of Bulleid’s earlier ‘Merchant Navy’ class, featuring innovative elements such as chain-driven valve gear enclosed in an oil bath and an ‘air-smoothed’ casing, which were intended to reduce maintenance, increase efficiency by consuming less coal, and to simplify preparation for railway crews. Their rather distinctive appearance soon resulted in the nicknames ‘Spam Cans' and 'Flat Tops'.
However, these design features proved problematic in practice, leading to 60 of the locomotives being rebuilt in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a more conventional design, similar to the ‘Merchant Navy’ class (as per our own 35006).
However, these design features proved problematic in practice, leading to 60 of the locomotives being rebuilt in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a more conventional design, similar to the ‘Merchant Navy’ class (as per our own 35006).
Whilst we're closed for our winter maintenance programme, here's a special Manston episode taken during her half-term running week! - Video © Mid Hants Railway 'The Watercress Line'
Readers may remember that we were due to have the ELRs 34092 'City of Wells' last year, but sadly this didn't happen.
Time for some history on 34070 thanks to information from Southern Locomotives Limited. Further details on the loco can be found here.
'Manston' was the final Light Pacific locomotive to receive a number under Bulleid’s distinctive classification scheme. Built at Brighton Works, it was completed in November 1947 and carried the number 21C170, making it the last locomotive constructed by the Southern Railway prior to nationalisation.
On entering service, it was allocated to Ramsgate, where it worked main line trains to and from London. A notable early appearance came on 31st May 1948, when it hauled the inaugural Thanet Belle Pullman service between Ramsgate and Victoria. Like other locomotives originally numbered under Bulleid’s system, it was later renumbered by British Railways, becoming 34070. In 1950, the engine moved to Stewarts Lane depot, taking up duties on key Eastern Section routes to Folkestone and Dover, as well as Central Section services to Brighton. A further transfer followed in 1955, when it was based at Dover and regularly employed on Continental boat train workings, including the prestigious Night Ferry.
On entering service, it was allocated to Ramsgate, where it worked main line trains to and from London. A notable early appearance came on 31st May 1948, when it hauled the inaugural Thanet Belle Pullman service between Ramsgate and Victoria. Like other locomotives originally numbered under Bulleid’s system, it was later renumbered by British Railways, becoming 34070. In 1950, the engine moved to Stewarts Lane depot, taking up duties on key Eastern Section routes to Folkestone and Dover, as well as Central Section services to Brighton. A further transfer followed in 1955, when it was based at Dover and regularly employed on Continental boat train workings, including the prestigious Night Ferry.
Following the completion of the Kent Coast electrification in May 1961, steam operations at Dover were greatly reduced, leaving little work for the locomotive. It was therefore reallocated to Ashford on 26th May 1960, and subsequently moved to Exmouth Junction on 9th November 1961, which would be its final depot. From there, it operated widely across Devon and North Cornwall, and also on the main line linking Exeter and Salisbury. Manston was withdrawn from service in the week ending 25th July 1964 and was later sold for scrapping to Woodham Brothers at Barry.
34070 was the 146th locomotive to be released from Barry scrapyard. It was acquired by the Manston Locomotive Preservation Society and, in June 1983, transported to sidings at Richborough Power Station in Kent, where restoration work began. Progress on both restoration and fundraising was gradual but consistent over the following twelve years. The planned closure of the power station, however, meant the society was required to leave the Richborough site, prompting the search for a new base, initially identified as the Great Central Railway (GCR) at Loughborough.
GCR train at Woodthorpe, taken Friday, 4 October, 2013 - Photo © Bob Walters (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/6894078
After a decision was made to join with Southern Locomotives, the engine was moved to Sellindge, Kent, in September 1998. There it joined a number of other Bulleid Pacifics undergoing restoration or overhaul. Attention then turned to dismantling the locomotive in preparation for major work. The necessary steps were taken to allow the boiler and frames to be separated from the wheelsets, and in 2001 a crane was brought in to lift these components clear, reducing the engine to its individual parts.
During 2002 and 2003, the frames were grit-blasted and repainted, while the boiler had its superheater elements and tubes removed. The driving wheels were sent to Swindon for re-profiling, and the bogie and pony truck were dispatched to Herston Works for overhaul, along with the cab and many smaller components. By 2004, the refurbished bogie and pony truck had returned to Sellindge and were fitted to the rebuilt frames, enabling the locomotive to be transported by low loader to Herston Works for the next stage of restoration. The boiler, along with that from Sir Keith Park, was sent to Crewe for overhaul.
West Somerset Railway near Washford, taken Saturday, 12 March, 2016 - Photo © Gareth James (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/4868499
Like many Bulleid Pacifics recovered from Barry scrapyard, Manston was missing its tender, requiring the team at Herston to construct a replacement. The steel plate needed for the tender frames had to be custom-rolled, as material in the original imperial thicknesses is no longer manufactured. To make this viable, the cost of production was shared with other Bulleid locomotive owners who were also in need of tenders, allowing sufficient plate to be rolled to produce frames for six tenders.
The official event celebrating Manston’s return to operational service took place in Swanage on Saturday 19th September. During the ceremony, the locomotive’s nameplate was revealed by Edward Fox, the distinguished actor and local resident of Purbeck, best known for his role in the 1969 film 'Battle of Britain'.
The official event celebrating Manston’s return to operational service took place in Swanage on Saturday 19th September. During the ceremony, the locomotive’s nameplate was revealed by Edward Fox, the distinguished actor and local resident of Purbeck, best known for his role in the 1969 film 'Battle of Britain'.
Swanage Railway near Corfe Castle, taken Saturday, 3 April, 2010 - Photo © Gareth James (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/1793497
Approximately 80 guests attended the occasion, among them representatives of the Royal Air Force, the Spitfire Society, and the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, alongside members of the Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives. Following the formal proceedings, guests enjoyed lunch aboard the train, after which Herston Works was opened to allow visitors to view ongoing restoration work on Sir Keith Park. The day was widely regarded as a great success and provided a well-deserved, if somewhat delayed, celebration marking the locomotive’s return to service.
Manston began operating on the Swanage Railway on 14th September 2008, making its debut by double-heading a service train alongside No. 34028 Eddystone. Its boiler certificate was originally valid until mid-2018, but a low-speed shunting incident on 24th July 2017 caused damage that prompted an early withdrawal from service so that repairs and a full overhaul could be carried out. The locomotive returned to traffic at Swanage in November 2022. Since then, it has also appeared in service on both the Mid-Hants Railway, and the East Lancashire Railway (ELR).
34070 "Manston" emerges from Herston Works - Swanage Railway 02/11/2022 - Video © TheSoutherner
Severn Valley Railway Autumn Steam Gala, taken Friday, 24 September, 2010 - Photo - © K A (cc-by-sa/2.0)
geograph.org.uk/p/2187530
Swanage Railway, April 2025. To kickstart the Easter Holiday, Bulleid Battle of Britain Class 34070 “Manston” gets to work on the Swanage Railway, with the locomotive on full display at five scenic locations seen in this video - © Notch 8 Railways
A photo archive of 34070 'Manston' can be found here.
The BR Database entry for 34070 can be found here.
The GWSR has had an excellent working relationship with the Swanage Railway for many years and we are very much looking forward to having 34070 at Toddington later this year. 35006's visit to Swanage back in 2024 was extremely well received and the locomotive proved very popular with both the visitors, and locomotive crews.
35006 at Swanage - June 2024 - Photo courtesy of Steve Parker
35006 Progress
Keeping things on a distinctly 'Southern' theme for the time being, work is progressing on the dismantling of 35006. One of the biggest issues at the moment, with three locomotives now under heavy general overhaul, is having the space to store various components that have been removed from the engines. The more bits that are removed, the more storage space is required. However, it is hoped that we will have a solution to this conundrum in the not too distant future.
P&O's overhaul began with a washout and a general clean of the frames - 7th November 2025 - Photo courtesy of Ken Sims
Further Locomotive News
In other news, 2807 recently returned from her winter holiday at the South Devon Railway (SDR).
2807 being unloaded at Toddington - 14th January 2026 - Photo courtesy of Brian Gamlin / CSPL
Work continues on getting 6880 'Betton Grange' ready for the new season.
Further work was carried out on the Grange last week
For those of you who use Facebook, here are a number of GWSR related groups which are worth following:
DMLL - Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
2874 - The 2874 Trust
35006 - 35006 Group
76077 - Standard Locomotive 76077
THL - The Honeybourne Line - a GWR mainline in the making 
A scene soon to be back at Toddington - Photo courtesy of Mark Sanders
Here is a list of our events and experiences for 2026 (click to enlarge). The details were correct at the time of posting. Please see our website for further information: https://www.gwsr.com/ *
Until next time folks, try and keep warm and out of the rain. We'll have the fires burning again next month!
Alex (the sooty one!).
* Please Note: All locomotives are subject to availability and changes may be made at short notice.
All published photographs and videos are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.
Details on 34070's history based on information sourced from: https://southern-locomotives.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment