South Eastern & Chatham Railway P-class No.27

1910-built P-class 0-6-0T No.27 at Sheffield Park in 1970 (Keith Salmon)

The P-class tank locomotives were, in design terms, an updated copy of the LBSCR Terriers. Eight of them were built in 1909/1910 and they were used initially to supplement and replace a series of steam railmotors which had been bought only a few years before, and which were proving underpowered. The P-class were only marginally more successful than the railmotors, and were themselves quickly overtaken by increasing traffic and heavier loads. From 1912, they were increasingly relegated to shunting duties, as shed and station pilots, a role for which, with the unsurpassed SECR-designed steam reverser, they were ideal. No.27 was re-allocated to Reading shed in July 1914.

No.27 saw war service, employed initially in Boulogne from April 1915, constructing sidings and returned across the channel after about 18 months with the ROD.

The members of the class were common at places such as Dover (27 appears to have spent much of its time there from 1945 onwards), and from 1938 onwards were the only locomotives allowed to shunt Kingston Wharf at Shoreham docks.

Coming to the Bluebell in 1961 as the infant Bluebell's third engine, for two years it carried the name "Primrose" (as seen in Ken Chown's photo, right, of it on the Newick Spur just south of Sheffield Park station, with Met. coach No.394). In 1963 it was repainted into full SECR passenger livery, and, with No.323, was a mainstay of the Bluebell's operational fleet for much of that decade, carrying the flag forward into the early 1970s. It has been said that it has only been in preservation days that the P-class have been able to demonstrate their true usefulness, with their greater water capacity compared to a Terrier proving quite an advantage.

No.27 was dismantled in the mid 1970s for a "quick" overhaul, but this was found to be beyond the skills of the basic workshop capability we had at that time.  It is planned that the overhaul will recommence very soon, undertaken by the Villas Team, supported by the 'Fenchurch Fund', now that the overhaul of "Baxter" is complete. Major work is required on the boiler, as well as some significant mechanical renewal and replacement of platework, including the tanks. Fund raising is coordinated by Clive Emsley, Millfield, Manor Road, Upper Beeding, Steyning, W.Sussex BN44 3TJ

Go to a higher resolution enlargement of the engine in the photo above,
or to other photos of this engine.

Class: P
Wheels: 0-6-0T
Class Introduced: 1909
Designer: Harry S. Wainwright
Built: 1910 at Ashford Works, SECR
Entered Traffic: 19 February 1910, Sheerness shed, for use on Isle of Sheppey Light Railway
Purpose: Light branch-lines and Push & Pull services
Total number built: 8
Current Number: 27
Other Numbers carried: WD: 5027, SR: A27, 1027, BR: 31027
Arrived on Bluebell Railway: 18 June 1961

Length: 24ft 1in
Weight: 28 Tons 10 cwt
Water capacity: 550 Gallons
Coal capacity: 18 cwt
Boiler Pressure: 160 lb/sq.in (180 lb/sq.in until 1919)
Driving Wheels: 3ft 9 ¹/₈ in diameter
Cylinders: (2, inside) 12" x 18"
Tractive Effort: 7,810 lbs (8,790 lbs at 180psi)
Engine Brake: Vacuum
BR power classification: 0F

Last operational: November 1974
Current status: Dismantled for major overhaul.
Owner: Bluebell Railway

Above right: Terrier "Fenchurch" and P-class No.27 double headed on a freight train in the headshunt at Horsted Keynes in the very early 1970s (Bluebell Archives).