34053 Sir Keith Park Steam Locomotive on the Swanage Railway
by Gordon James
Title
34053 Sir Keith Park Steam Locomotive on the Swanage Railway
Artist
Gordon James
Medium
Photograph - Photography Digital
Description
34053
21C153 Sir Keith Park is a Southern Railway Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive that has been preserved. It became a permanent resident at the Spa Valley Railway in September 2020, where it was operational until the expiry of its boiler ticket in May 2022.
21C153 was built at Brighton Works in January 1947 and upon completion was allocated to Salisbury MPD. In addition to Salisbury, it spent considerable time on loan to Stewarts Lane depot in Battersea where it hauled the heavy "Continental Boat Expresses" as well as the Golden Arrow on many occasions. After a brief spell at Nine Elms and Exmouth Junction, it was returned to Salisbury in 1951.
When British Railways was formed in January 1948 it was given a new number - 34053. It was rebuilt in 1958, and in 1960, it was transferred to Bournemouth Depot where it worked the Pines Express on the Somerset & Dorset Line and it remained in Bournemouth for the remainder of its career with BR until October 1965 when it was withdrawn from service.
Naming
21C153/34053 was named by Air Vice-Marshal Park at Brighton station on 19 September 1947.
Modifications
In November 1958 it was taken into the works at Brighton and was given a complete rebuild. This included removing the air smoothed casing and giving it a complete new shape. Once its rebuild was completed it was returned to its home shed at Salisbury MPD.
Uploaded
November 17th, 2022
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