The Watercress Line in Hampshire has announced that next month’s Autumn Steam Gala will feature some historic guest steam locomotives.
Visiting the gala from Friday, 3rd to Sunday, 5th October will be legendary locomotives Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class Bulleid Pacific No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair and London & North Eastern Railway A4 Class Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.
They will appear alongside impressive locomotives from the railway’s home fleet engines, such as the Southern Region Merchant Navy Class Bulleid Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific.
A special attraction will be a double-header featuring Sir Archibald Sinclair and Canadian Pacific, which will be the first time since 2017 that double-headed Bulleid Pacifics have hauled a train on The Watercress Line.
Sir Archibald Sinclair is a rebuilt Battle of Britain class locomotive originally designed for the Southern Railway’s secondary main lines; it was rebuilt in the 1950s to improve reliability while retaining many of Bulleid’s innovations, and returned to service in 2023 after a major overhaul.
Sir Nigel Gresley was built in 1937, and secured its place in history in 1948 by achieving a post-war steam speed record of an incredible 112 mph.
Among the home-fleet will be London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) Ivatt 2-6-2 tank engine No. 41312, which spent much of its working career on Southern Region lines, and the railway’s flagship SR Merchant Navy Class locomotive No. 35005 Canadian Pacific, which returned to service in March 2025 after a 14-year restoration project.
Also putting in an appearance will be The Watercress Line’s London & South Western Railway (LSWR) Urie S15 Class locomotive No. 30506 in British Railways livery with an early crest, the first S15 to carry an early crest in preservation.
Before the Autumn Steam Gala, The Watercress Line is hosting a new wine tasting experience on Saturday, 20th September, called ‘The Wine Line’, where specialist wines and food meet heritage steam travel.
“We’re thrilled to invite families and steam enthusiasts alike to our Autumn Steam Gala – a magical celebration of our railway heritage! We have some thrilling attractions – including the double-headed Bulleids 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair and 35005 Canadian Pacific – it’s an event not to be missed. Come along and make some unforgettable memories.”
Rebecca Dalley, CEO of The Watercress Line
Responses
Nice to see 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair still about! I would remember it on Exmth Jct shed in early 1960, Sister engine 34058 Sir Frederick Pile was a 72A engine! As both converted they would require similar oiling? The main one (Called Underneaths) by cleaners and fireman would need the little finger to spill / reduce the oil level to take the cork after filling! That would then be pushed in firmly with a final twist clockwise to feel the thread? At first, Drivers new to you would watch closely from the running plate! You ‘appy’ with that they say? Yep, I reply and go back to cleaning Chard or Blackmore Vale! All that ‘gubbins’ up under them steam Battle of Britain class would spin faster than the eye could see at speed! And not a single seizure on its run up to Salisbury / London! And well paid! £3=9/- and eleven pence a week in late fifties! And Canadian Pacific was no different! ‘Same’ conversion but Merchant Navy class! Oh, And best driver L** would always give me a Mint Humbug sweet! It had a swirl in it? (hard as iron they were)! 72A all gone now?