34028 Eddystone - overhaul appeal

34028 at Norden

34028 Eddystone entered service with the Southern Railway in 1946 carrying the number 21C128. It ran with British Railways as 34028 until April 1964 when it had the dubious honour of being the first rebuilt Light Pacific to be withdrawn. After years in Woodhams scrap yard in Barry it was bought by the Southern Pacific Rescue Group and re-entered service at Swanage Railway in 2004.

Since then it has been at the core of Swanage Railway's loco fleet, and along the way it has spent time at Bluebell Railway, North Yorks Moors Railway, and visited galas at Severn Valley, West Somerset, Eastleigh 100, and Churnet Valley. It's also spent time in disguise as its long-lost sisters Dartmoor and Ottery St Mary.

After 10 years of service it needs a major overhaul including significant boiler work and a new tender tank. On the plus side, it's complete and has been giving reliable service right up to the end. Indeed, its "worn but cared for" appearance is attractive, reminiscent of those locos which hauled trains out of Waterloo until 1967. Its last day in service was Sunday 17th August, 2014.

34028 at Corfe

2014

After withdrawal the loco made a brief trip to the Great Dorset Steam Fair though surface conditions were so poor it never appeared on the main circuit. Delays to the completion of 257 Squadron's overhaul meant that Eddystone sat at Herston Halt, minus rods and fittings.

February 2017

Eddystone was moved into Herston works in March 2016 for stripping down. In August 2016 it moved to Buckfastleigh for its boiler to be lifted. The boiler is was overhauled at SDR Engineering Ltd, and is returned in 2018. The frames went to Tyseley for overhaul and were returned to Herston on 14th December 2017.

March 2018

Eddystone's frames and components are in course of repair and remaking at Herston works. The boiler will return when the frames are ready for it, some time in the second half of 2018.

May 2020

When work on Eddystone's stopped in March 2020 due to the Corona virus there was around three months work remaining. We hope that this can be completed in 2020 and the loco will be in service in 2021. Meanwhile we still need funds from Eddystone supporters to pay for its overhaul.

Return to Service

34028 Eddystone returned to service in 2021 and is in regular use at Swanage Railway. It will doubtless need repairs during the 10 years of its current working ticket, and donations to its maintenance are most welcome.

A print of Eddystone for supporters

34028

To support the overhaul, Richard Green (Locos-in-Profile) has created a new fine art print of Eddystone.

Eddystone print detail   Eddystone print detail

These prints are created in amazing detail, which is reproduced faithfully as a fine art print. Only 350 copies of the Eddystone print will be made, each one signed and numbered.

Our print of 34028 Eddystone will show the loco as it was in 1962, in rebuilt condition with AWS pipework fitted. The paper size is 690 by 305mm, and the print is supplied unframed.

Donations

If you'd like to make a donation please send a cheque to Simon Troy (16 Arcadia Road, Istead Rise, Meopham, Kent, DA13 9EH) or make a bank transfer to Southern Locomotives Ltd, Barclays Bank, Sort Code: 20-90-56, Account No: 70826235. So that we can record your donation correctly please also send an email to southernlocos@btinternet.com

Be part of it

Southern Locomotives has an unrivalled track record at restoring Bulleid Pacifics, however this is only possible with your support, for which we thank you sincerely.

34028 at Waterloo