Sunday, May 22, 2016
Battle of Britain Class Lord Dowding No 34052 Steam Train Oakham Rutland Photographs
Battle of Britain Class Lord Dowding No 34052 Steam Train Oakham Rutland
Lord Dowding is actually Braunton in disguise. specially renamed the engine to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Built in December 1946, Lord Dowding was one of the first members of the 'Battle of Britain' class. Identical in all but name to the 'West Country' class, the Southern Railway decided to name the class after squadrons, airfields, commanders and aircraft that had participated in the Battle of Britain.
Originally built with 'air-smoothed' casing, we see Lord Dowding today as she was after being rebuilt in September 1958, with outside Walschaerts valve gear and with pipework fully exposed. During her career Lord Dowding was used on both passenger and freight trains across the Southern region before being retired in July 1967, one of the last steam engines to be retired by British Railways.
After retirement she was sent to Cashmores Scrapyard in 1968 where she was, sadly, not saved for preservation and cut up in February 1968.
Lord Dowding returned to steam on May 15th 2016.
Lord Dowding is actually Braunton in disguise. specially renamed the engine to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Built in December 1946, Lord Dowding was one of the first members of the 'Battle of Britain' class. Identical in all but name to the 'West Country' class, the Southern Railway decided to name the class after squadrons, airfields, commanders and aircraft that had participated in the Battle of Britain.
Originally built with 'air-smoothed' casing, we see Lord Dowding today as she was after being rebuilt in September 1958, with outside Walschaerts valve gear and with pipework fully exposed. During her career Lord Dowding was used on both passenger and freight trains across the Southern region before being retired in July 1967, one of the last steam engines to be retired by British Railways.
After retirement she was sent to Cashmores Scrapyard in 1968 where she was, sadly, not saved for preservation and cut up in February 1968.
Lord Dowding returned to steam on May 15th 2016.
