1 - Bonnie Prince Charlie

‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ was built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in 1949 (Works No. 7544) and entered service with Messrs. Corrall Ltd. The locomotive initially worked in Poole at Corrall's Ballast Wharf in Hamworthy and then, from 1965, at Corrall's depot on Dibles Wharf in Southampton. ‘BPC’ was purchased for preservation by the Salisbury Steam Trust in 1969 and came to Didcot shortly afterwards where she saw a couple of periods of use before being restored again for the 1985 season. In that year the sight, and sound, of her pulling Blue Peter out of one of the shed roads at Didcot, against an unhelpful curve and gradient had to be experienced to be believed.

Since then she was painted blue and has been fitted with a vacuum brake and has seen use on passenger duty. This actually makes quite an interesting sight as the engine is that much smaller than the auto coach she normally hauls. It's quite interesting for the driver as well, as you have to lean out a fair way to see round the coach when propelling. She is an interesting engine to crew at Didcot, with power to weight ratio over in the power department thus making her quite able to haul heavy loads, as long as the rails are dry or the driver is very careful!

More recently the engine was overhauled once more and returned to traffic in a green livery, but is now ‘out of ticket’ and awaiting a further overhaul.

Status

Static display

Build date

1949

Built at

Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns (Works No. 7544)

Original railway

Poole Harbour

Wheel arrangement

0-4-0ST

Route availability

All routes

Boiler type

Non - GWR

Cylinders

2

Power class

Unclassed

Superheater area

None

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