It’s faster than the famous Flying Scotsman, is the oldest surviving preserved wartime Merchant Navy class locomotive and was built largely by a female workforce.
Fittingly in the year that marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, the record-breaking train is also coming home in 2025.
After a 13-year restoration bringing one of Britain’s most iconic steam-era locomotives back to life, the Canadian Pacific will be launched on Hampshire heritage railway, the Watercress Line, in March 2025.
Built in 1941 for Southern Railway in Eastleigh, Hampshire, by a workforce that would have included many women brought in to replace men who had gone off to war, the locomotive spent much of its life hauling express trains from London to the South Coast.
It is the oldest and fastest survivor of the Merchant Navy class of locomotive designed by Oliver Bulleid (1882-1970) – best known as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway – who has been described as the last British innovator in steam locomotive engineering.
After its lifetime of service, the steam train became one of the flagship engines for The Watercress Line and ran at its popular heritage railway attraction from 2006 until 2008 before its boiler certificate expired, and it was moved to undercover storage.
Now after a National Lottery funded restoration has finally been completed, the engine will take to the tracks this spring for her long-awaited return.
The launch week, 19 -23 March 2025, offers the first opportunity to ride behind the locomotive since restoration, while visitor experiences will include exclusive dining, themed journeys, and heritage rides inspired by the golden age of steam travel.
A series of tailored experiences begin with the launch train ride on 20 March, featuring journeys in restored 1947-48 carriages, originally designed by Oliver Bulleid himself, with limited tickets available at £150 per person.
The first public train ride, on 21 March, aboard classic carriages costs £55 per person, while celebrations continue with the Canadian Pacific hauling passengers on its first weekend of public service on 22 and 23 March, for £35 per person.
Along with the chance for visitors to immerse themselves in the glamour of the 1950s golden era of vintage train travel, the launch week will also feature live music performances and merchandise stands for one-of-a-kind souvenirs to mark the railway milestone.
Known as the Watercress Line thanks to its history of transporting watercress to the UK’s fresh produce markets during the industry’s heyday in Victorian times, the Mid Hants Railway is one of the country’s most successful heritage railways.
For more details and to book, visit https://watercressline.co.uk/special-days/canadian-pacific-launch/
All tourist information for Hampshire can be found at www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
Photo: Matt Allen