A CRACK express locomotive, brought back to life by West Somerset Railway specialists over ten years ago, is back on the West Somerset rails – but under a different name.
Originally built in 1946 as the Southern Railway express ‘Braunton’, the locomotive is currently under the guise of ‘Lord Dowding’ and will be working WSR trains during August and September.
It will also feature in the WSR’s Autumn Steam Gala at the end of September.
Temporarily named after Air Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding, chief of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, for the centenary year of the Royal Air Force, ‘Braunton’ was built at Brighton as one of engineer Oliver Bulleid’s ‘Light Pacifics’ for the Southern Railway.
It was extensively rebuilt in 1959 and was withdrawn in the general run-down of steam in the 1960s. Its first return to working life from scrapyard condition, followed work carried out by West Somerset Restoration at Williton in 2007.
Today the engine is part of the Icons of Steam fleet and based at Crewe, from where it operates on main line steam excursion trains.
‘Braunton’ will haul the 11am train from Bishops Lydeard and the 3.15pm from Minehead on August 16, 17, 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 and 30..
Dates and times for September operations will be available later. On arrival at Minehead, the locomotive will be turned on the turntable.