Bulleid MN "Merchant Navy" Class 4-6-2
| The first member of the class - 21C1 Channel
Packet - was completed at Eastleigh Works in February 1941 - design and
construction having been overtaken by the outbreak of World War Two. Two
further batches of 10 were ordered, the final batch in the early days of
nationalisation which never carried Bulleid notation numbers. With a tractive
effort of 37500lb at 85% boiler pressure the Merchant Navy class provided the
Southern with a modern powerful express passenger locomotive. Three members of
the class 35017 Belgian Marine 35019 French Line C. G. T. and
35020 Bibby Line (the reserve engine) all temporarily matched with
higher capacity LMS water scoop tenders took part in the British Railways
locomotive exchange trials of 1948 in the express passenger class trials where
they more than held their own.
However in the early days the class experienced persistent teething troubles whilst in their original condition some of the novel features failed to deliver their original labour and cost saving intentions. The steam reverser and the oil bath enclosed motion gave particular problems. It proved impossible to keep the oil bath sealed with the result that the boiler lagging became oil soaked and prone to catching fire, and the class was also known for its slippery starts. The air-smoothed casing also caused a maintenance headache, and they were inefficient users of coal and oil. |
| Nº35014 Nederland Line passing Eastleigh with the up
Bournemouth Belle on 28th March 1954.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
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Now 35014 storms through Clapham Junction in the summer of 1956.
In 1946 she had been involved in a series of fuel and haulage trials with Lord
Nelson and King Arthur class locomotives and was one of only three Merchant
Navy class locos not to have been painted blue. She had experimental
self-weighing tender Nº3343 from October 1952 until being rebuilt in July
1956.
photograph by Mike Morant |
| 35008 Orient Line, calling at Salisbury. This loco
was involved in an accident in 1947 when she collided with an electric service
whilst running in with a West of England train, doing considerable damage to
her front end. The loco was soon repaired, however, was fitted with a modified
cab and returned to traffic with a fresh coat of malachite green, the last of
the class to be re-painted from the Southern Livery. She was rebuilt in May
1957.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
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35006 Peninsular & Oriental S N Co on shed at Exmouth
Junction sometime between December 1948 when she was renumbered and March 1951
when she was painted in BR blue. This loco, now being restored by the 35006
Association, had a unique claim - she was the only one of her class to remain
at one shed (Salisbury) for the whole of her SR/BR career. She was also
attached to the same tender throughout.
photograph: Mike Morant collection |
| 35008 Orient Line again and M7 class 30321 in the carriage sidings at Clapham
Junction circa 1955/6. This photo is a little later than the one above as the
valances covering the cylinders and leading up to the buffer beam have now been
removed.
photograph by Mike Morant |
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This page was last updated 28 June 2010
