SR Merchant Navy Class 35027 Port Line
Encyclopedia
35027 Port Line was one of a batch of ten SR Merchant Navy Class
steam locomotive
s built by the Southern Region of British Railways
between 1948 and 1949.
Completed at Eastleigh Works
in December 1948, she was named on 24 April 1950 in Southampton Docks. She was shedded at Bournemouth
with others of the class such as Canadian Pacific. Along with the rest of the class Port Line was rebuilt by removal of the air-smoothed casing (at Eastleigh in 1957) and this rebuilding made them more like the BR Standard class engines of the time. Two years later she pulled the Royal Train
from Windsor
to Hamworthy
Junction. Last working from Weymouth in 1966, she was withdrawn at the end of steam in 1967 and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
Port Line was not as lucky as her sister 35028 Clan Line
which went straight into preservation. She stayed in the scrapyard until 1982, when she was saved; this was part of a BBC
documentary The Train Now Departing. After restoration she was based at the Swanage Railway
. She spent a short time in traffic at the Bluebell Railway
, and was the flagship of the Swanage Railway until she left, in 2003. She was sold in 2004 to Jeremy Hosking
, and moved to Southall
. In January 2011 35027 Port Line was moved to Ian Riley's workshops at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway
for overhaul to mainline standard, using the boiler from 35022 Holland America Line.
SR Merchant Navy class
The SR Merchant Navy class , was a class of air-smoothed 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives designed for the Southern Railway of the United Kingdom by Oliver Bulleid...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s built by the Southern Region of British Railways
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
between 1948 and 1949.
Completed at Eastleigh Works
Eastleigh Works
Eastleigh Works is a locomotive, carriage and wagon building and repair facility in the town of Eastleigh in the county of Hampshire in England.-History under the LSWR:...
in December 1948, she was named on 24 April 1950 in Southampton Docks. She was shedded at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
with others of the class such as Canadian Pacific. Along with the rest of the class Port Line was rebuilt by removal of the air-smoothed casing (at Eastleigh in 1957) and this rebuilding made them more like the BR Standard class engines of the time. Two years later she pulled the Royal Train
Royal Train
A royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
from Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
to Hamworthy
Hamworthy
Hamworthy is a parish and inner suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. Hamworthy lies on a peninsula of approximately and is bounded by Upton to the north, Poole Harbour to the west and Holes Bay to the east. Poole Bridge, the southern terminus of the A350 road, connects the suburb with the town centre...
Junction. Last working from Weymouth in 1966, she was withdrawn at the end of steam in 1967 and sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.
Port Line was not as lucky as her sister 35028 Clan Line
SR Merchant Navy Class 35028 Clan Line
Clan Line 35028 is a Southern Railway rebuilt Merchant Navy 4-6-2 class locomotive. 35028 was built at Eastleigh locomotive works in 1948. After a few weeks running in she was allocated to first to Dover then to Stewarts Lane shed in London where she worked heavy trains on the trunk routes to the...
which went straight into preservation. She stayed in the scrapyard until 1982, when she was saved; this was part of a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary The Train Now Departing. After restoration she was based at the Swanage Railway
Swanage Railway
The Swanage Railway is a long heritage railway in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. The railway follows the route of the Purbeck branch line between Norden railway station, Corfe Castle railway station, Harman's Cross railway station, Herston Halt railway station and Swanage...
. She spent a short time in traffic at the Bluebell Railway
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
, and was the flagship of the Swanage Railway until she left, in 2003. She was sold in 2004 to Jeremy Hosking
Jeremy Hosking
Jeremy J. Hosking is a British businessman, a co-founder and investment portfolio manager for private investment fund Marathon. Hosking is also well known for his extensive collection of steam locomotives, and 25% share holding in Crystal Palace F.C....
, and moved to Southall
Southall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
. In January 2011 35027 Port Line was moved to Ian Riley's workshops at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
for overhaul to mainline standard, using the boiler from 35022 Holland America Line.
Locomotive statistics
- Wheel arrangement: 4-6-24-6-24-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
- Length: 71 ft 7¾ in (21.84 m)
- Wheelbase: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
- Driving wheel diameter: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Boiler pressure: 250 psi (1.73 MPa)
- Cylinders (3): 18" bore x 24" stoke (457 x 610 mm)
- Tractive effort: 33,495 lbfPound-forceThe pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
(148.99 kN) - Weight in working order: 94 tonsLong tonLong ton is the name for the unit called the "ton" in the avoirdupois or Imperial system of measurements, as used in the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries. It has been mostly replaced by the tonne, and in the United States by the short ton...
15 cwt (96,270 kg, c. 212,240 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
)