Preservation SER O class

1 preservation

1.1 pre-preservation history
1.2 preservation (1963-1996)
1.3 preservation (1996 onwards)

preservation

rear view showing tender

one o1 class, secr no. 65 (sr nos. a65 , 1065, br no. 31065) has been preserved, , based on bluebell railway in sussex.

pre-preservation history

no. 65 built south eastern railway (ser) @ ashford railway works in 1896, , surviving former ser locomotive. rebuilt in 1908, @ ashford, form reminiscent of more modern secr c class. engine withdrawn british railways in 1961, major claim fame being working of last railtour run on hawkhurst branch in kent, along c class no. 31592, preserved @ bluebell railway. regular operator on kent & east sussex railway during last decade of line s operational lifespan. engine went on haul demolition trains.

within month of operating special on hawkhurst branch, engine withdrawn general traffic british railways , moved bricklayers arms steam shed storage, along number of other former secr engines. work began on cutting engine scrap, cutting of locomotive s coupling rods, work ceased , later repaired prior preservation.

preservation (1963-1996)

following withdrawal, engine purchased mr lewis-evans in 1963 scrap value of £850. engine moved storage @ bricklayers arms ashford steam centre, based on part of former ashford railway works in kent. there, engine worked during open days along former 31592 , h class tank no. 31263, both bluebell railway residents.

as steam engines, centre played host number other vehicles, including pullmans go on form part of fleet vsoe pullman train. when site closed, of these vehicles dispersed, majority going both k&esr , bluebell, not 31065. engine needed heavy overhaul, , removed private site elsewhere in kent work take place. once there, engine largely dismantled, after initial work on boiler, including removal of several boiler tubes, work faltered , parts separated. engine remained in state around 20 years, stored outside , subject ravages of weather.

preservation (1996 onwards)

65, led 592, operating in february 2009

during late summer of 1996, owner of engine visited bluebell inspect facilities available @ sheffield park view restoring engine properly. rolling chassis arrived afterwards, , followed several of other constituent parts of engine, including boiler, during following months. impending centenary of secr due in 1999, work started swiftly on restoring engine traffic. major overhaul ensued, engine had not received major work since before withdrawal in 1961, , had been victim of being stored outside.

the engine returned traffic centenary of amalgamation of ser , lcdr secr in 1999, , finished in ornate secr goods livery, same livery carried c class no. 592, had been regular performer @ railway since arrival in 1970s. 2 engines briefly ran together, many photographic charters bringing 2 on regular basis. lasted until c class boiler ticket expired in 2000, , following retirement of p class tank operational (no. 323 bluebell), now-numbered 65 briefly became sole operational ex-secr engine in world, until restoration of p class tank @ kent & east sussex railway in 2001. remained operational ex-secr engine @ bluebell railway until restoration traffic of 592 in summer of 2007.

the engine has performed regularly @ bluebell railway since overhaul, found operating line s vintage trains, formed of ex-secr carriages. in may 2009 engine made historic return k&esr, having been regular on line during 1950s, including working of demolition trains. first time since arrival engine had left bluebell, although previous visit mid hants railway gala appearance in 2007 had been planned, cancelled owing failure. despite this, has been reliable , regular performer, popular both crews , passengers alike.

the engine s boiler certificate expired in july 2009, owing amount of work done during last overhaul, not thought require work restore it, , boosted recent return of 592 , p class tanks nos. 178, 323 , h class 263, creating potential 5 ex-secr engines operational first time since 1960s.

a spare secr r1 boiler sent away in 2013 overhaul, , once completed, put onto no. 65. spare boiler used since meant locomotive did not have dismantled until entered works mechanical work required in 2016. bluebell railway hoping engine service 2017. frames moved bluebell s workshop @ sheffield park in 2016 work commence on rest of locomotive.