As we reported last month, the Mid Hants Railway – The Watercress Line is inviting members of the public to take a ride on board its newly-restored SR ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35005 ‘Canadian Pacific’.

Canadian Pacific – together with two Bulleid carriages, 4211 and 1456 – has been undergoing restoration work over the last fourteen years.

The Watercress Line’s staff and volunteers have spent a total of more than ten thousand hours working on the project.

The restoration work received £1,254,400 in financial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The locomotive will return to service later this month, hauling trains from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 March.

Southern Railway built the Bulleid Merchant Navy Class locomotive Canadian Pacific in 1941 at the Eastleigh Locomotive Works.

The team that built the loco included many women. Recent research has uncovered stories about the women who worked at Eastleigh, when they replaced men called up for military service. Many were dismissed when the men returned.

Southern Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer Oliver Bulleid designed 35005 Canadian Pacific. The innovative design was designated for mixed traffic use, and the locomotive provided a wartime service on the South Coast route.

Canadian Pacific got its name from the shipping line which provided supplies to Britain during the Second World War. After the war, Canadian Pacific hauled luxury boat trains, including the Bournemouth Belle, Royal Wessex and Atlantic Coast Express.

The Watercress Line’s restoration work began in 2011, and also took place at the Eastleigh Works. The loco’s overhaul included the reconstructing the boiler, repairing the frame, and restoratiing intricate mechanical components.

Information about Canadian Pacific’s return to service is available on the Watercress Line’s website.

“This fantastic restoration of the historic locomotive Canadian Pacific is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and the unwavering support of our partners.

“Canadian Pacific is not just a locomotive; she represents the rich heritage of British engineering and the enduring spirit of our railway community.”

Rebecca Dalley, CEO of The Watercress Line