Bulleid Merchant Navy pacific 21C6 will be seen hauling the Atlantic Coast Express on Fisherton Sarum at Ab-Rail 2011 on the 5^th March. Further details about the show can be found here.

In December 1941 Merchant Navy class locomotive number 21C6 was rolled out of Eastleigh Works, later to be named Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. after the famous shipping line. 21C6 was unique amongst the Southern Railway Merchant Navy pacific’s in that she spent her entire working life allocated solely to one shed namely Salisbury shed. She was also unusually paired with the same tender throughout too.It was therefore an easy choice of a model to be resident on Fisherton Sarum being based of course on Salisbury shed and also I am a member of the 35006 Locomotive Society (see below).

The model built from an old Millholme Kit and using a few additional castings by the late Albert Goodall, represents here during the period that I model i.e. 1946 to 1949, still with original style cab, standard smoke deflectors and all other fairings in place. 21C6 being one of the first series MN’s had the sweep to the cab front, distinctive curved fairings in front of the cylinders and the side casing made from limpet board, hence the prominent rib horizontally along the middle of the side. She is paired with an original style 5000 gallon tender.

Later series builds such as my example of 21C14 (a second series build 21C11-20) had a slightly higher bottom body side edge and was more angular exposing more of the driving wheels and was coupled to a revised 5100 gallon tender.

21C14 can also be seen in action on Fisherton Sarum at Ab-rail hauling my devon Belle Rake along with 34011 in the experimental British Railways apple green livery that she wore between May 1948 and September 1950.

Picture curtesy of C Nevard and Hornby Magazine

The third series 35021-35030 had the modified V shaped cab from new, were even more angular in the bodyside around the driving wheels and were paired with a 6000 gallon tender. 35021 is currently still on my workbench.

Back to 21C6, she has been finished using Railmatch post war malachite green, lining and decals from the HMRS and nameplates from Fox Transfers. I have also fitted a Fox Transfers Atlantic Coast Express headboard for good measure.

After Nationalisation in 1948 the real 21C6 was renumbered as 35006. All examples of the Merchant Navy class were rebuilt along more conventional lines, with 35006 and 35028 Clan Line being the last two examples to be modified in 1959. In August 1964 it was all over; due for a heavy general overhaul, 35006 was withdrawn and at first cannibalised for spare parts before her sale to Woodham Bros scrap yard at Barry in South Wales

Thankfully she now is undergoing restoration to full working order by the The 35006 Locomotive Company Ltd based at Toddington, the principal station of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. The company is supported by the 35006 Locomotive Society which has approximately 330 members. Hopefully the next 12 months or so should see her extremely close to completion.

Society membership costs £12 per year (at the time or writing) and society members receive an excellent quarterly newsletter, which includes a full and detailed report on the progress of the restoration work.

If you would like more details of the project, please write to:

35006 Locomotive Society

243 Botley Road

Burridge,

Hampshire

SO31 1BJ

Or email the membership secretary Pete Mason

Further details can also be found on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway website.