34081 "92 Squadron" BR(SR) Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Builders: Southern Railway, Brighton Year: 1948 No. of cylinders: 3 (16 3/8” x 24") Boiler Pressure: 280 psi. Driving wheel diameter: 6'2" Weight: 133 tons 4 cwt Train Brakes: Vacuum (air piped) Original Owner: British Railways (Southern) Current Owner: Battle of Britain Locomotive Society |
Background
Designed by Oliver.V.S.Bulleid, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway. His first new design was the 'Merchant Navy' class in 1941. Later asked to reduce weight, the 'lightweight' West Country & Battle of Britain class was designed. Incorporating a number of new developments in British steam locomotive technology, they were amongst the first British designs to use welding in the construction process, and to use steel fireboxes, which meant that components could be more easily constructed under wartime austerity and post-war economy. Of similar appearance to the 'Merchant Navy' class, the new design was some 12 tons (12.2tonnes) lighter at 86 tons (87.3tonnes) and therefore gave a route availability of some 90% of Southern lines including in the south-west of England and the Kent coast. Mechanically and externally the classes were very similar. The valve gear was in an oil bath placed between chassis members and was designed to operate in a similar manner as a motor car engine sump. 110 of these Bulleid 'mixed traffic' light Pacific’s being equally adept at hauling passenger and goods trains. The term 'mixed traffic' was used when Bulleid requested their build as during the war no 'express passenger locomotive' designs were permitted. On 21st June 1945 the first West Country/ Battle of Britain locomotive appeared. Numbered in European style as 21C101 and named Exeter on 9th December 1946. As may be deduced the 110 locomotives were named after locations in the West Country and after Battle of Britain connections during World War two. Completion of the final locomotive, No. 34110 66 Squadron was in January 1951. As with the Merchant Navies, the class soon gained the nickname "Spam Cans", due to the resemblance to the distinctive “Spam" tin cans. Due to problems with some of the new features, such as the Bulleid chain-driven valve gear, sixty locomotives were rebuilt by British Railways during the late 1950s. This produced a design highly similar to the rebuilt Merchant Navy class. The classes operated until July 1967, when the last steam locomotives on the Southern Region were withdrawn.
Locomotive History
Our locomotive, 34081Entered service after nationalisation with British Railways (Southern Region) in September, 1948, becoming the 101st Bulleid Pacific to be completed and was allocated to Ramsgate as her first shed originally painted in Malachite Green with three Yellow stripes but no name plates.. Named at Brighton Works without ceremony after the Royal Air Force Spitfire Squadron the '92 Squadron' in April 1950 now painted in Brunswick Green. 92 Squadron was first formed in September 1917 at London Colney until being disbanded on 7th August 1919. The Squadron was reformed at Tangmere on 10th October 1939 and flew from most of the famous airfields, including Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain. By April 1942 they were in Egypt and progressed moving through Europe. Finally in Austria, having the distinction of being the highest scoring Squadron of all time with 317 enemy aircraft destroyed. It was again reformed at Acklington in January 1947, this time flying Meteor Jets and progressing through various fighter jets, they were disbanded again in September 1994. Then in June 2009 the Tactics and Training Wing of the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington became 92 Squadron.
She hauled many prestigious Kent Coast expresses such as the 'Thanet Belle', 'The Man of Kent', 'Night Ferry' and the 'Golden Arrow' as well as on more mundane commuter trains. After the Kent electrification scheme made her redundant, 34081 was sent in September 1957 to Exmouth Junction shed with around 165,000 miles (265,542km) to her credit, where she was used on services to North Devon & Cornwall, including the famous 'Atlantic Coast Express', as well as to London. In June 1964 was re-allocated to Eastleigh shed where she worked for a short while on the Bournemouth line. Withdrawn still with its air smoothed casing and chain-driven valve gear in August 1964, with 741,511 miles(1,193,346km) in service stored awaiting disposal at Eastleigh. On 2nd April 1965 was taken in convoy with sisters 34058, 34067 & 34073 to Woodham Bros. scrap yard at Barry, South Wales, by 34006. Of these locomotives, only 34006 was scrapped!
Preservation History
34081 languished in the famous Barry scrap yard until purchased by the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society (BBLS) in 1973. In 1975 the BBLS chose the Nene Valley Railway for restoration, 34081 departed Barry by low loader and arrived on 7th December 1976 at the British Sugar Peterborough factory for unloading and thus became the 86th engine to escape from Barry. Once at Wansford, BBLS members stripped 34081 into constituent parts for a full major overhaul to mainline condition. Boiler returned to its frames on 24th November 1985. A setback occurred in 1989 when a BR Inspection required new axleboxes to be fitted even though BR Swindon had done the work. With the boiler back in position the wheels were removed and refitted in April 1991. All cost of the restoration has been raised by the BBLS sales and promotion. 34081 returned to steam on the 9th March 1998 In Southern Malachite green with British Railways lettering. She hauled her first public train in preservation on 23 May 1998. On 12th September 1998 34081 was officially named 92 Squadron by Pete Waterman with Oliver Bulleid (a grandson of the designer) and former 92 Squadron personnel present. She then visited Bluebell Railway, in October 1998, she returned to the NVR and in the November she was fitted with air brake control gear and operated our Santa Specials. Further Visits included the Bluebell again and the North Yorkshire Moors and the Mid-Hants Railways. In 2003, were problems with leaking stays lead to it withdrawal and transfer to Chatham Steam in Kent. Upon completion of repairs, 34081 moved onto the North Norfolk Railway in September 2004 and entered service there until further repairs were found necessary in 2006. Emerging in BR Brunswick Green livery on 9th April 2007after protracted firebox repairs at Weybourne, North Norfolk Railway. Visited Bluebell, Llangollen and Swanage Railways before returning to the North Norfolk Railway, but unfortunately failed on 21st May 2008 with boiler problems were the Society Committee decided that a full overhaul would be more beneficial. Arriving back at Wansford on 21st May 2010 where the full overhaul recommenced within the new heavy workshop. 34081 returned to service on the NVR on 25th February 2017. Since returning to steam further visits to the Severn Valley, Swanage (Strictly Bullied event), Mid-Hants, Great Central & North Yorkshire Moors Railways in-between being the mainstay of NVR steam services.
Designed by Oliver.V.S.Bulleid, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway. His first new design was the 'Merchant Navy' class in 1941. Later asked to reduce weight, the 'lightweight' West Country & Battle of Britain class was designed. Incorporating a number of new developments in British steam locomotive technology, they were amongst the first British designs to use welding in the construction process, and to use steel fireboxes, which meant that components could be more easily constructed under wartime austerity and post-war economy. Of similar appearance to the 'Merchant Navy' class, the new design was some 12 tons (12.2tonnes) lighter at 86 tons (87.3tonnes) and therefore gave a route availability of some 90% of Southern lines including in the south-west of England and the Kent coast. Mechanically and externally the classes were very similar. The valve gear was in an oil bath placed between chassis members and was designed to operate in a similar manner as a motor car engine sump. 110 of these Bulleid 'mixed traffic' light Pacific’s being equally adept at hauling passenger and goods trains. The term 'mixed traffic' was used when Bulleid requested their build as during the war no 'express passenger locomotive' designs were permitted. On 21st June 1945 the first West Country/ Battle of Britain locomotive appeared. Numbered in European style as 21C101 and named Exeter on 9th December 1946. As may be deduced the 110 locomotives were named after locations in the West Country and after Battle of Britain connections during World War two. Completion of the final locomotive, No. 34110 66 Squadron was in January 1951. As with the Merchant Navies, the class soon gained the nickname "Spam Cans", due to the resemblance to the distinctive “Spam" tin cans. Due to problems with some of the new features, such as the Bulleid chain-driven valve gear, sixty locomotives were rebuilt by British Railways during the late 1950s. This produced a design highly similar to the rebuilt Merchant Navy class. The classes operated until July 1967, when the last steam locomotives on the Southern Region were withdrawn.
Locomotive History
Our locomotive, 34081Entered service after nationalisation with British Railways (Southern Region) in September, 1948, becoming the 101st Bulleid Pacific to be completed and was allocated to Ramsgate as her first shed originally painted in Malachite Green with three Yellow stripes but no name plates.. Named at Brighton Works without ceremony after the Royal Air Force Spitfire Squadron the '92 Squadron' in April 1950 now painted in Brunswick Green. 92 Squadron was first formed in September 1917 at London Colney until being disbanded on 7th August 1919. The Squadron was reformed at Tangmere on 10th October 1939 and flew from most of the famous airfields, including Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain. By April 1942 they were in Egypt and progressed moving through Europe. Finally in Austria, having the distinction of being the highest scoring Squadron of all time with 317 enemy aircraft destroyed. It was again reformed at Acklington in January 1947, this time flying Meteor Jets and progressing through various fighter jets, they were disbanded again in September 1994. Then in June 2009 the Tactics and Training Wing of the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington became 92 Squadron.
She hauled many prestigious Kent Coast expresses such as the 'Thanet Belle', 'The Man of Kent', 'Night Ferry' and the 'Golden Arrow' as well as on more mundane commuter trains. After the Kent electrification scheme made her redundant, 34081 was sent in September 1957 to Exmouth Junction shed with around 165,000 miles (265,542km) to her credit, where she was used on services to North Devon & Cornwall, including the famous 'Atlantic Coast Express', as well as to London. In June 1964 was re-allocated to Eastleigh shed where she worked for a short while on the Bournemouth line. Withdrawn still with its air smoothed casing and chain-driven valve gear in August 1964, with 741,511 miles(1,193,346km) in service stored awaiting disposal at Eastleigh. On 2nd April 1965 was taken in convoy with sisters 34058, 34067 & 34073 to Woodham Bros. scrap yard at Barry, South Wales, by 34006. Of these locomotives, only 34006 was scrapped!
Preservation History
34081 languished in the famous Barry scrap yard until purchased by the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society (BBLS) in 1973. In 1975 the BBLS chose the Nene Valley Railway for restoration, 34081 departed Barry by low loader and arrived on 7th December 1976 at the British Sugar Peterborough factory for unloading and thus became the 86th engine to escape from Barry. Once at Wansford, BBLS members stripped 34081 into constituent parts for a full major overhaul to mainline condition. Boiler returned to its frames on 24th November 1985. A setback occurred in 1989 when a BR Inspection required new axleboxes to be fitted even though BR Swindon had done the work. With the boiler back in position the wheels were removed and refitted in April 1991. All cost of the restoration has been raised by the BBLS sales and promotion. 34081 returned to steam on the 9th March 1998 In Southern Malachite green with British Railways lettering. She hauled her first public train in preservation on 23 May 1998. On 12th September 1998 34081 was officially named 92 Squadron by Pete Waterman with Oliver Bulleid (a grandson of the designer) and former 92 Squadron personnel present. She then visited Bluebell Railway, in October 1998, she returned to the NVR and in the November she was fitted with air brake control gear and operated our Santa Specials. Further Visits included the Bluebell again and the North Yorkshire Moors and the Mid-Hants Railways. In 2003, were problems with leaking stays lead to it withdrawal and transfer to Chatham Steam in Kent. Upon completion of repairs, 34081 moved onto the North Norfolk Railway in September 2004 and entered service there until further repairs were found necessary in 2006. Emerging in BR Brunswick Green livery on 9th April 2007after protracted firebox repairs at Weybourne, North Norfolk Railway. Visited Bluebell, Llangollen and Swanage Railways before returning to the North Norfolk Railway, but unfortunately failed on 21st May 2008 with boiler problems were the Society Committee decided that a full overhaul would be more beneficial. Arriving back at Wansford on 21st May 2010 where the full overhaul recommenced within the new heavy workshop. 34081 returned to service on the NVR on 25th February 2017. Since returning to steam further visits to the Severn Valley, Swanage (Strictly Bullied event), Mid-Hants, Great Central & North Yorkshire Moors Railways in-between being the mainstay of NVR steam services.