Following the success of 'Woking 150' a decision had to be made as to where to run the locomotive. The initial intention during the restoration of the locomotive was that it should work on the Swanage Railway. Unfortunately, at the time, the permitted axle loading on the Swanage Railway was insufficient for a Merchant Navy Class locomotive.
Agreement was reached with the Bluebell Railway for Port Line to move there for a period of running in, possibly prior to some main line work and a booked appearance at the Eastleigh Works Open Day. In the end the railway proved so welcoming and helpful that 35027 remained there for over ten years and became a regular Bluebell engine.
Port Line alongside sister engine Clan Line at Eastleigh Works Open Day
Port Line worked its first train in preservation in June 1988 and the following week the former Nine Elms driver, Bert Hooker, was invited to take the regulator of the 'official' first train. In September 1988 it worked a special dining train for the owners (shareholders) who had contributed to its restoration.
Port Line waits to haul its first passenger train on the Bluebell Railway in June 1988
In May 1992 the locomotive had the distinction of hauling the ceremonial first train through Sharpthorne Tunnel on the Bluebell Railway's new extension to West Hoathly.
Its time on the Bluebell has not been without a few problems but all of these have been due to the boiler which was the only major component to be restored by outside contractors.
During Port Line's eight working years on the Bluebell Railway, many of the owners have 'claimed' their right of access to the locomotive and, with the co-operation of the Bluebell crews, have enjoyed a footplate ride on 'their engine'.
Port Line was withdrawn from traffic with a leaking boiler tube in 1996. This was removed and replaced but following a steam test more tubes were found to be leaking. As a result of this and the fact that the boiler had only one year left before its ten year overhaul is due, it was decided to withdraw the locomotive and it will wait its turn for a complete overhaul.
It was always intended that the locomotive would work on the Swanage Railway so in early 2000 the locomotive was moved to Swanage. The necessary repairs on the boiler were carried out by the team at Swanage later that year and the locomotive was given a one year boiler certificate allowing it to operate on the Swanage Railway.
When Port Line was failed with serious firebox problems in October 2003, we were faced with the difficult decision whether to store her, in the hope that one day we would have the resources to overhaul her, or to sell her to ensure that she would be restored in a reasonable timescale.
After a few months of being parked out of use on the Swanage Railway, her condition rapidly deteriorating, and combined with the prospect of having three Bulleid Pacifics awaiting restoration, Southern Locomotives made the difficult decision of putting her up for sale.
It wasn’t an easy decision as this was the locomotive that had brought everyone together, but having mortgaged houses to restore her and strained several marriages and relationships, we couldn’t watch her rapidly deteriorate back to Barry Scrapyard condition.
We therefore accepted a good offer which would also see 35022 Holland America as part of the package. This was a locomotive that we had ‘inherited’ from the Swanage Railway as nothing was happening to it – there were grandiose schemes to ‘unrebuild’ her to original condition as built by Bulleid, but after SLL had undertaken a feasibility study, we realised that it would cost as much as we had spent restoring four locomotives. As it has always been our policy of not starting a Project without a reasonable end date, there was no option but to cancel the idea.
Port Line and Holland America Line are currently at Southall Works – the former undergoing a heavy overhaul.
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