Sir Winston Churchill – Battle of Britain Class 34051

The Watercress Line’s Autumn Steam Spectacular 2012 had two visitors; 43XX 5322 and Battle of Britain Class 34051 Sir Winston Churchill.

This is probably the most famous member of OVS Bulleid’s Battle of Britain class and is a member of the National Collection. Its’ fame comes from it being the locomotive that hauled Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train on 30th January 1965.

The locomotive was taken into the National Collection as an example of Bulleid’s unorthodox designs, with boxpox wheels, thermic syphons and air-smoothed casing. It visited the Watercress Line to help raise funds for its cosmetic restoration. So far just over £15k of the required £35k has been raised.

As can be seen from the pictures above and below; the locomotive certainly needs the restoration work to be carried out!

34051 proved to be another item of interest at the Watercress Line’s gala and completed a trio of National Railway Collection locomotives – the other two being operational schools class 925 Cheltenham and 850 Lord Nelson.