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Southern Railway "Schools" class "Stowe"

Mike Esau

The final development of the classic express 4-4-0, the three-cylinder Schools class were designed originally for the Hastings line with its restricted loading gauge and short turntable at St. Leonards, but proved themselves capable of hauling the Southern's top expresses along-side larger engines on the railway's other main lines. "Stowe" was one of a batch built for the London-Portsmouth run. Following the electrification of this line in 1937 many were transferred to Bournemouth shed, and used both on express trains into London Waterloo, and with lighter portions of through trains going further West.

Cecil J. Allen reported in 1939 on a run with this particular locomotive from Dorchester to Wareham, recording 95mph near Wool, a speed though to be a record for the Schools class.

Bought from British Rail by Lord Montague, it was for a time displayed at his motor museum at Beaulieu, in the company of Pullman Car Fingall, before moving to the East Somerset Railway in 1973 and the Bluebell in 1980 where it was rapidly restored to working order. Having hauled its share of trains for the duration of its boiler certificate, it has more recently been stored awaiting its turn in the workshop.

In September 2000 it was bought by the Maunsell Locomotive Society, so securing its future on the Bluebell. As a start to the loco's overhaul, their restoration team have taken on the complete rebuilding of the tender, which has received new drag boxes and a new tender body.

Length overall: 58ft 9.75in
Weight: Engine: 67 Tons 2 cwt, Tender (loaded): 42 Tons 8 cwt
Water capacity: 4,000 Gallons
Coal capacity: 5 Tons
Boiler Pressure: 220 lb/sq.in
Driving Wheels: 6ft 7in diameter
Cylinders: (3) 16.5" x 26"
Tractive Effort: 25,130 lbs
BR power classification: 5P

Withdrawn from BR service: 17th November 1962
Preserved: 14th February 1964
Arrived on Bluebell Railway: 10 July1980
Last major overhaul: 1981
Owned by the Maunsell Locomotive Society
Current status: Static display, awaiting overhaul.

For further information, go to the Web page for this engine from the Maunsell Loco Society.