Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

Hope all goes well with the event.

Just a Reminder about the 'Sir Keith Park Steam Weekend' tomorrow and Sunday (17th & 18th October) at the Spa Valley Railway, that runs between Eridge (which has Main Line direct connections to London Bridge, East Croydon, Oxted , Crowborough, Uckfield, etc) and Tunbridge Wells.

There are still tickets available (see the link below) and the Seating in all Coaches on the Train is strictly in accordance with 'Covid-19' safe separation arrangements and facilities.

https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/prod ... am-weekend

PW

There are now some photos, posted on the Southern Locomotives Ltd website, of 'Sir Keith Park' at the Spa Valley Railway. These photos cover the arrival of the Locomotive on 3rd September 2020 and the first Service Train operating on 12th & 13th September 2020.

Please use the Link below to see these photos ('my Pic No's' 1 to 15 incl.):

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN ... xBci11V3h3

Hopefully, the photos for the 'Sir Keith Park Steam Weekend' on 17th & 18th October 2020 will be following soon.

PW

Further to my previous Post (Wed Oct 21) I am pleased to report that Southern Locomotives Ltd have now posted some more photos of 'Sir Keith Park', which now include some from the 'Sir Keith Park Steam Weekend' of 17th & 18th October 2020, at the Spa Valley Railway.

Please use the Link below to see these Photos ('my Pic No's) 16 to 24 incl.):

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN ... xBci11V3h3

PW

On the weekend of 26th & 27th June 2021, 'Battle of Britain Class' 34053 'Sir Keith Park' will take on the identity 'West Country Class' 34095 'Brentor', at the Spa Valley Railway.

This will be part of a requested 'Private Charter' that weekend.

['Brentor' entered service in October 1949; was rebuilt in January 1961; withdrawn in July 1967 and cut up at Cashmores, Newport, in April 1968].

PW

'Battle of Britain Class' Locomotive 'Sir Keith Park' continues to be a very popular Locomotive at the Spa Valley Railway (SpVR). The 34095 'Brentor' renaming event (mentioned above) was a real success. So much so that this will be repeated on 13th September for a Photographic Event.

'Sir Keith Park' will also be the Locomotive hauling the SpVR 'Polar Express' Trains prior to Christmas. (I understand that some 17,000 tickets have already been sold!).

PW

'Sir Keith Park' completed the hugely successful 'Polar Express' event at the Spa Valley Railway (some 33,000 Tickets were sold over the 23 days!). It is hoped that there will be a short extension to the '10 year Boiler Ticket', which expires in February this year (where did those 10 years go??!!) before withdrawal of the Locomotive for Overhaul.

This Overhaul will be 'fast tracked' as SKP will be using Sidmouth's Boiler, which is currently under Overhaul at the North Norfolk Railway. ['Sidmouth' would then eventually have SKP's Boiler after that one is Overhauled]. All going well, it is hoped that 'Sir Keith Park' will be able to return to service in the Autumn of 2023

PW

Blimey. Where has the time gone.
Glad I saw, photographed and rode behind her once.

Taken by me on 25 February 2017 at Wansford on Nene Valley Railway with 34081 '92 Squadron'


Taken by me on 26 February 2017 at Peterborough on Nene Valley Railway


34053 nameplate. Taken by me on 25 February 2017 at Wansford on Nene Valley Railway


34053 with ACE headboard. Taken by me on 26 February 2017 at Peterborough on Nene Valley Railway

Thank you for the Photos Robert. There is something about a black and white photo of Steam Locomotives. seems more 'atmospheric').

PW

34053 wrote:Thank you for the Photos Robert. There is something about a black and white photo of Steam Locomotives. seems more 'atmospheric').

PW

It was taken in colour, but converted to Black & White afterwards. Think I did that to a few of the photos I took over the 2 days.

I was riding on the line on Saturday 25 February 2017, but just at Peterborough on the Sunday.

On Sunday 15th May 34053 'Sir Keith Park' will be withdrawn from Service, as the 10 Year Boiler 'Ticket' expires on 17th May (following a 3 month extension) and a major ('Heavy') Overhaul will now be carried out.

SKP was fully Restored from 'Scrap Yard' condition at Herston Works, Swanage from where, in May 2012, it was transported to the Severn Valley Railway (complete with a brand new Tender, fabricated 'in-house', at Herston Works). The Locomotive hauled its' first Passenger Train, at the SVR, in August 2012. The official 'Recommissioning' Ceremony took place on 31st August 2013, attended by a number of important Guests, including 3 Veterans of the Battle of Britain (Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, Wing Commander Dick Summers and Squadron Leader Tony Pickering) who all served under Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, as Teenage Pilots of 11 Group Fighter Command.

SKP stayed at the Severn Valley Railway for 5 Years, followed by a period at the Swanage Railway before taking up residence at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

There will be a Special Event at the Spa Valley Railway over the weekend of 14th and 15th May, called the 'Sir Keith Park' Farewell Weekend!' to mark the end of a tremendously successful period for this important Locomotive.

It is hoped that SKP will return to Service as soon as possible in 2023. A Boiler is currently under Restoration at the Weybourne Works of the North Norfolk Railway' This is actually the Boiler from (under Restoration) 34010 West Country Class 'Sidmouth'. The Boiler from SKP will then be overhauled and used on 'Sidmouth'].

The cost for the Overhaul of 'Sir Keith Park is estimated to be around £200,000.

PW

Mama Wedgy and I had a fantastic day at the Spa Valley Railway on Saturday (14th May) for the Farewell 'Sir Keith Park' Special Event over that weekend.

I was extremely fortunate to have been offered a Footplate Ride on both the Outward and Return Journeys, for the 1210 Departure from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge. Our Ticket was 'All Day, Any Train' so we made 2 more return journeys that day. We also had the most glorious Sunny Day.

'Sir Keith Park' made a final run on the 1650 Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West Train and her fire dropped for the last time.

A Team of SLL Volunteers are on site today, starting to dismantle the Locomotive. Inside the Smokebox the Steam Pipes and Superheater Elements will be removed and sent to Herston Works, Swanage. The Superheater Elements will replace those on 34072 '257 Squadron' in a quick swap. The Locomotive will then move to Herston Works, for further dismantling.

The next stage will be a move to the North Norfolk Railway where the Boiler off 34010 'Sidmouth' is nearing completion of its' Restoration. The Boiler on 'Sir Keith Park' will be swapped with the one off 'Sidmouth' and the Locomotive returned to Swanage for completion.[The Boiler off of 'Sir Keith Park' will be Restored for using on 'Sidmouth'].

Hopefully, 'Sir Keith Park' will be back at the Spa Valley Railway in the first half of 2023.

See this YouTube video by The Southerner for a 'flavour' of this Event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkQQPUSyses

PW

Nice, that ticket seems to have expired so quickly, seems only a few months ago the loco was being put back into service. Great news that it won’t be long out of service.

'Sir Keith Park' has been woken from her 'pre-Overhaul Slumber' at the Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells and has been transported (for Static Display) to the Great Dorset Steam Fair [Thursday 25th August to (Bank Holiday) Monday 29th August inclusive.

The GDSF is well worth a visit. It is located in the Village of Tarrant Hinton, between Blandford and Salisbury, on the A354 (Sat Nav Postcode: DT11 8HX)

PW

34053 wrote:'Sir Keith Park' has been woken from her 'pre-Overhaul Slumber' at the Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells and has been transported (for Static Display) to the Great Dorset Steam Fair [Thursday 25th August to (Bank Holiday) Monday 29th August inclusive.

The GDSF is well worth a visit. It is located in the Village of Tarrant Hinton, between Blandford and Salisbury, on the A354 (Sat Nav Postcode: DT11 8HX)

PW

May it have a good time there, and everyone who visits.

A very busy day on Wednesday 2nd November at Herston Works, Swanage:

- 'Battle of Britain Class' 34070 "Manston'' left the Works, on a Low Loader, after a 5 year long 'Repair and Overhaul' and will eventually return to operational use on the Swanage Railway.

- 'Battle of Britain Class' 34053 "Sir Keith Park" then arrived later, on the Low Loader [originally from the Spa Valley Railway and an appearance at the 'The Great Dorset Steam Fair 2022', followed by storage at Corfe Castle Station] . A start can now be made on the stripping down of the Locomotive, in preparation for the 'Heavy Overhaul' (required 10 years after the accepted Steam Pressure Testing of the Boiler, witnessed by the Insurance Company's Boiler Inspector). This Overhaul involves a 'Boiler Swap' (as often happened in British Railways days). Further details can be found in the '34053 Sir Keith Park' section of the Southern Locomotives Ltd Newsletter, using the link below:

https://southern-locomotives.co.uk/News/news.html

PW

On 25 & 26 February 2017, it was the only time I have seen, heard and ridden behind 34053 'Sir Keith Park' at Nene Valley Railway courtesy of Southern Locomotives Limited.
Please click on the link below to view the photos.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16521384@ ... 7279677394

Great Set of Photographs, Robert. Thank you.

I have not yet visited the 'Nene Valley Railway'. Must try to get there some time.

PW

34053 wrote:Great Set of Photographs, Robert. Thank you.

I have not yet visited the 'Nene Valley Railway'. Must try to get there some time.

PW

Thank you Ray. I try my best with taking photos.
The last ever time I visited the Severn Valley Railway (and saw the frames of 82045) was on 29 October 2011. The last ever time I was at the Nene Valley Railway was on 9 March 2019 when Repton & Martello visited. My last ever visit to Worth Valley was beginning of May 2019 and my last ever visit to ANY preserved line was beginning July 2019 (which was at the East Lancashire Railway).
Cannot afford to go anywhere (apart from my local station by bus).
I would need prior permission from the Job Centre to go away for a short break here in the UK (but would still have to do my 5 hours per day Job Search). There is no point in going away. Sorry.

34053 "Sir Keith Park" left Herston Works, Swanage on 10th October on a Low Loader, having been stripped down (as necessary) ready for a 'Boiler Swap' to receive the (Restored) Boiler from 34010 "Sidmouth" at Tyseley Works, in Birmingham.

[SKP's Boiler will be Restored, for ultimate use on "Sidmouth"]

PW

Following the completion of the current, ongoing major overhaul of 'Sir Keith Park', the Locomotive will be renamed '303 Squadron'. This will be in tribute to the Polish and Czech Pilots of this Squadron who fought alongside the British Pilots, during the Battle of Britain under the control of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park and 11 Group, Fighter Command.

'303 Squadron' was one of the most successful Squadrons during the 'Battle of Britain' , shooting down 203 enemy aircraft, but suffering only 29 losses.

It is expected that 34053 will run as '303 Squadron' until September 2025, for the 85th Anniversary of 'The Battle of Britain'. It will then revert to 'Sir Keith Park'.

PW

'Sir Keith Park' has now left Herston Works and is at the Swanage Railway for steam tests, following the completion of the '10 yearly' Major Overhaul. The Locomotive looks immaculate. Well done to all those involved:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ3TWDjkLsk

PW

Here is an excellent YouTube Video by The Southerner of the 'Strictly Bulleid 2' Gala at the Swanage Railway [7th-9th June 2024].

Go to 'Full Screen'; turn up the Volume................and ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXUHF88RDNU

PW

That's a rather well put together video, enjoyed that

Nice video. On The Bluebell we have just got Sir Archibald Sinclair back in service.
I'm working on returning our 9F to steam.