Steve tells us about the return of this historic locomotive, after eight years away. Ed
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s newly repaired flagship locomotive, 1891-built LSWR O2 Class No. W24 ‘Calbourne’, re-entered service yesterday (3rd August 2010) hauling passenger trains for the first time since August 2002.
Resplendent in early British Railways lined black livery, ‘Calbourne’ took control of several trains throughout the day, heading a rake of former London Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBSCR) and South-Eastern & Chatham Railway (SECR) bogie coaches, packed with passengers.
“Calbourne did everything we asked of her today”, said IW Steam Railway General Manager Peter Vail. “After 8 years in the workshops, it’s terrific to have our original locomotive back in service”.
The locomotive, which was the first engine acquired by the embryonic Isle of Wight Steam Railway back in 1967 and is the sole surviving O2 Class locomotive, was withdrawn from service for major boiler repairs eight years ago on 9th August 2002.
Expensive repairs
The overhaul of the boiler cost over £170,000, the repair project being supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The boiler work was carried out under contract by LNWR Heritage in Crewe and included the renewal of the entire boiler barrel, the manufacture of a new copper firebox door plate, tube plate and two new inner firebox half sides.
The boiler was returned to Havenstreet in December 2008 and a new smokebox was then fabricated at South Coast Steam on Portland, and fitted at the Steam Railway’s own workshops at Havenstreet earlier this year.
A month of testing
Last month, she was moved out of the Havenstreet Mechanical Engineering Workshop for a programme of steam tests which began with the boiler being gently warmed through on Sunday, 11th July 2010. An ‘in steam’ boiler insurance inspection followed, and after completing a handful of ‘snagging’ repairs, final test runs were undertaken on Monday 2nd August prior to the locomotive re-entering service yesterday.
Steve Oates, Chairman of The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, said, “‘Calbourne’ is part of the unique collection of historic steam locomotives, Victorian and Edwardian carriages, and other rare rolling stock which we have acquired over the years, all of which are recognised to be of national importance. But, being the locomotive that helped start the IW Steam Railway all those years ago, there is a special fondness for ‘Calbourne’ and we’re all really pleased to see her back in action. A good deal of hard work has gone into her repair, so our very warm thanks go to our engineering team for overseeing the boiler repairs and undertaking the rebuild. I must also pay tribute to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their extremely generous grant towards the cost of the work.”
A Brief History of ‘Calbourne’
‘Calbourne’ was originally constructed in 1891 at the Nine Elms locomotive works of the London and South Western Railway to a design by William Adams, Chief Mechanical Engineer. Her early years were spent based at Fratton and then Exeter, passing into the ownership of the Southern Railway in 1923. On 26 April 1925 she was shipped to the Isle of Wight as part of a major modernisation of the Island’s railways. Various modifications were carried out including the fitting of Westinghouse air brake equipment and an extended coal bunker to increase her operational range.
The O2 class proved ideal for the Island’s railways and a total of 23 were eventually shipped to the Island. By the end of 1960 they were the only class of steam engine operating on the Island’s rail network.
Following the closures of the fifties and sixties, the Island’s remaining railway from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin was electrified in early 1967 and ‘Calbourne’ was retained for engineers works trains before sale to the Wight Locomotive Society, the founding group of the present Isle of Wight Steam Railway. During the 1990s she was restored to early 1930s condition, wearing Southern Railway olive green livery and carrying an unmodified coal bunker.
‘Calbourne’ was withdrawn from service for overhaul on 9th August 2002. The extensive repairs were supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and included a major boiler and firebox overhaul, a new smokebox, refitting the bunker extension and a repaint in early British Railways lined black livery. The overhaul was completed during the summer of 2010.
