Photo:
E A Woollard - Near Norbiton, 2nd December 1962

Probably the last duty of a well tank in Cornwall was a farewell trip over the Wenford Bridge branch on 8th September, 1962 by 30587 with a train of brake vans for enthusiasts. However, prior to their withdrawal there were opportunities of travelling behind a Beattie tank in passenger carriages. It had been possible to journey between Bodmin and Wadebridge with one of the three tank engines in charge, but one had to be fortunate to be in the district to enjoy this pleasure. In 1955, for the first time in living memory a Beattie tank left its native heath to work a special train on 14th May for the Railway Enthusiasts Club from Andover Junction to Bulford Camp and back. No. 30587 was brought specially from Wadebridge for the purpose. A three coach LSWR non-corridor set was used and the well tank was worked chimney first up to Bulford Camp. On the return journey it was turned on the Amesbury turntable. No really heavy demands were made on the engine but the 1 in 60 bank out of Amesbury was taken at walking pace and a maximum speed of 36 mph was attained on the favourable gradient down from Grateley.

It was the imminent demise of the three veterans in 1962 that led to our Society member, Henry Casserley, having a wonderful idea which led to the ambitious project of bringing them back to London for the last time. In 1962 he was the rail tour Secretary of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and in conjunction with the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, a jointly sponsored rail tour was arranged using two of the engines over several lines the class had not seen for more than sixty years. The plan captured the imagination of so many enthusiasts that it had to be run twice; on two Sundays in December 1962. The first occasion being on 2nd of the month, a cold but bright day never to be forgotten by the participants.

At Waterloo station the twins 30585 and 30587 stood on a six coach corridor train which included a cafeteria car, surely the first time a Beattie tank had headed such a formation! The route taken was the main line to Clapham Junction and then on to the Windsor line. At Wandsworth Town there was a brief pause to ensure there was a clear run ahead up the bank from Point Pleasant Junction to East Putney and then followed an easy trip down to Wimbledon. A short stop was made at Surbiton before making the climb over the flyover bridge onto the Hampton Court Branch.

Photo:
L B Sheppard - At Waterloo with Mr Earle Edwards, the Divisional Manager

At the terminus there was a crisis when it was discovered that the small hose laid from a tap in the Gents lavatory for replenishing the locomotive water tanks had frozen solid. Fortunately it was possible to arrange for the Surrey Fire Brigade to come quickly to the rescue and the real possibility of having to drop the fires vanished. The tour then continued by returning to Wimbledon where the pair of 2-4-0WTs were replaced by one of the massive Urie 4-6-2Ts 30517, for a trip to Chessington and back. Once again at Wimbledon the Beatties doubled headed the special and ventured up another branch, this time to Ian Allen country, to Shepperton.

The homeward journey to Waterloo was via Twickenham, where water was taken. The completely successful tour was repeated on 16th. The only difference on the second occasion was that the two well tanks were marshalled bunker to bunker and there was no problem with water at Hampton Court!

Those two Sundays were remembered by more than 500 passengers and countless hundreds at the line side. It was a happy farewell to the engines which had once served Londoners so well.

Photo:
L B Sheppard - At Hampton Court, 2nd December 1962

Reference:
The Centenary of the Beattie Well Tank at Quainton, Quainton Railway Society, 1974

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1974 and so does not reflect events in the 40+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added as deemed necessary.  The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.