Polar Bear (locomotive)
Encyclopedia
Polar Bear is a Bagnall steam locomotive built in 1905 for the Groudle Glen Railway
, to supplement the similar Sea Lion
. The two Bagnalls were temporarily taken out of service in the 1920s when they were replaced by a pair of battery locomotives. These proved unsatisfactory, and Polar Bear and Sea Lion were returned to traffic. The railways was closed for the duration of World War II
, and when the line reopened in the late 1940s only Polar Bear was returned to traffic. When the Groudle Glen Railway closed, Polar Bear passed to the Brockham Museum Trust. In 1982 it passed, with the rest of the Brockham collection, to the Amberley Museum Railway
, where it is currently used on passenger services in rotation with the other steam engines located there. It's boiler certificate expired at the end of 2010; a complete retube is expected to be required before she returns to traffic. Since being based at Amberley, Polar Bear has returned to the Groudle Glen on three occasions to visit.
As of March 2011, Polar Bear has been stripped down for overhaul. The boiler has been moved to Chatham for overhaul, with mechanical work being undertaken in-house at Amberley. It is hoped Polar Bear will be back in traffic for the 2012 season.
Groudle Glen Railway
The Groudle Glen Railway is a narrow gauge railway north of Douglas in the Isle of Man which is owned and operated by members of the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters' Association and operates on summer Sundays; May to September and Wednesday evenings in July and August along with a number of...
, to supplement the similar Sea Lion
Sea Lion (locomotive)
Sea Lion is a steam locomotive built in 1896 to supply the motive power to the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man and the locomotive still provides the main traction there today. The locomotive was built by W.G. Bagnall & Co., Stafford and delivered to the line in May of that year, providing...
. The two Bagnalls were temporarily taken out of service in the 1920s when they were replaced by a pair of battery locomotives. These proved unsatisfactory, and Polar Bear and Sea Lion were returned to traffic. The railways was closed for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and when the line reopened in the late 1940s only Polar Bear was returned to traffic. When the Groudle Glen Railway closed, Polar Bear passed to the Brockham Museum Trust. In 1982 it passed, with the rest of the Brockham collection, to the Amberley Museum Railway
Amberley Museum Railway
The Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre Railway is a gauge railway based at the Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, Amberley, West Sussex. It has a varied collection of engines and rolling stock ranging from gauge to gauge...
, where it is currently used on passenger services in rotation with the other steam engines located there. It's boiler certificate expired at the end of 2010; a complete retube is expected to be required before she returns to traffic. Since being based at Amberley, Polar Bear has returned to the Groudle Glen on three occasions to visit.
As of March 2011, Polar Bear has been stripped down for overhaul. The boiler has been moved to Chatham for overhaul, with mechanical work being undertaken in-house at Amberley. It is hoped Polar Bear will be back in traffic for the 2012 season.