The public are invited to enjoy a unique opportunity to be among the first passengers to
enjoy a nostalgic ride on board The Watercress Line’s newly restored SR Merchant Navy
class locomotive, No. 35005 Canadian Pacific.
After years of meticulous renovation work by the railway’s skilled volunteers, this powerful
steam giant is set to make a triumphant return to the rails this month, offering exclusive rides
from March 20 to 23.
Built in 1941 by a team, which included many women, working for Southern Railway at the
Eastleigh Locomotive Works. It has been brought back to its former glory through the
dedicated efforts of The Watercress Line’s expert staff and volunteers and the generous
support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The restoration of Canadian Pacific has been a monumental 14-year project, driven by The
Watercress Line’s skilled volunteers, who spent more than 10,000 hours on the renovation of
the Bulleid Merchant Navy Class locomotive and two Bulleid carriages, 4211 and 1456.
It now takes its place in the Railway 200 campaign https://railway200.co.uk/ celebrating 200
years of railway travel in the UK.
Designed for Southern Railway by Chief Mechanical Engineer Oliver Bulleid, 35005
Canadian Pacific featured an innovative design with a mixed traffic designation, providing a
wartime service on the South Coast route. It was named after the shipping line providing vital
supplies to isolated Britain in the darkest days of the 2nd World War.
After the war, it hauled the luxury boat trains of the mid-20th century, such as the
Bournemouth Belle, Royal Wessex, and Atlantic Coast Express.
The Watercress Line began restoration work in 2011 at the Eastleigh Works. Canadian
Pacific’s overhaul included the reconstruction of the boiler, frame repairs, and the meticulous
restoration of intricate mechanical components.
Rebecca Dalley, CEO of The Watercress Line, said:
“This fantastic restoration of the historic locomotive Canadian Pacific is a testament to the
dedication of our volunteers and the unwavering support of our partners.
“Canadian Pacific is not just a locomotive; she represents the rich heritage of British
engineering and the enduring spirit of our railway community.”
Volunteer Brian Carter added:
“Working on Canadian Pacific has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a great team
effort in bringing this fantastic locomotive back to life.”
The project received £1,254,400 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Canadian Pacific is a locomotive which tells an incredible story of our industrial past, from
its wartime build through to its commercial service pulling luxury boat trains. It has now been
meticulously restored over 10 years by dedicated volunteers and will be operated by The
Watercress Line, preserving and sharing this unique heritage with everyone, now and in the
future.
“This year marks 200 years of railway passenger travel, so it is great to announce this new
lease of life for the Canadian Pacific in this anniversary year.”
For more information and to book tickets for the heritage train rides, visit:
https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/canadian-pacific-launch
