Bulleid 'Canadian Pacific' 1955

Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 Pacific. First Series, 35005 'Canadian Pacific'

Shown as the locomotive would have looked in 1955, 35005, formerly 21C5, was repainted in British Railways green in February 1954. The 'air smoothed' casing had already been modified several times by now: the roof cowl was added in 1944 and the standard smoke deflectors were added in 1947. Now the casing forward of the cylinder has been removed for easier maintenance. The hinged cover on the roof panels have been replaced by the sliding hatch design and the three safety valves are now re-positioned behind the boiler dome. One of the first series Merchant Navy Pacifics, 35005 still retains the horizontal strengthening rib on the air smoothed case. There are three sandpipes present at this point with their refill hatches noticeable in the body casing. The cab was modified to match the third series vee-shaped, three window design design in 1950. 

The coupling rods have been replaced at this point in time, the old fluted type were changed to the stronger plain design.

Originally numbered 21C5 ‘Canadian Pacific’ was completed and named at Eastleigh on 13th January 1942. Designed by Oliver Bulleid, the Chief Mechanical Engineer for the Southern Railway, it incorporated the modifications applied to the 21C1 and 21C2. The first batch of 10 locomotives differed from second and third series of production runs. Most noticeable was the front of the air smoothed casing which projected into a ‘widow’s peak’ above the boiler door. This design was later replaced with the hood and smoke deflectors and all second and third series locomotives entered service with this arrangement. The first series also had a unique cab design with the bottom of the cab curving forward and a recessed cab window. Second series engines had a simpler design and third series engines had yet another design: the vee-fronted cab which aided visibility and smoke clearance. This was rolled out to all the locomotives in the class.

Attached to the 5,000 gallon tender, number: 3115, the tender also went through various modifications after the initial build was complete.

British Railways would make the decision to rebuild the Merchant Navy class in the late 1950’s. 35005 was rebuilt in May 1959 and withdrawn from service in October 1965 but was fortunately saved from the scrapyard and is now preserved by the Mid-Hants Railway preservation Society.

Posters printed on 200gsm satin stock. Available in 3 sizes.

Every attempt is made to ensure the featured locomotive is accurate given the available references. Colours on the prints may look slightly different to their screen representations.