Profile of Schools Class No.928 "Stowe"

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Technical Specification or 928 in service with the Southern Railway and British Railways

928 in preservation

The Schools class was arguably R.E.L Maunsell's finest locomotive design and Stowe is recorded as achieving the highest known speed for the class - 95mph, on a train between Dorchester and Wareham in 1938. Only five Maunsell express passenger locos survive, three of which are owned by the National Railway Museum. Repton (based on the NYMR) and Stowe are the only privately owned Maunsell express passenger locomotives and the Maunsell Locomotive Society were particularly pleased to be able to take up this rare opportunity to add this impressive loco to their collection.

Built at Eastleigh in 1934, Stowe was originally bought from British Railways for display outside the motor museum at Beaulieu along with three Pullman coaches. It subsequently moved to the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore in 1973. In 1980 it moved to the Bluebell Railway and returned to working order in 1981. The loco's former owners have decided to sell in order to concentrate more resources into the motor museum , but have expressed a desire to keep in contact with the loco. Stowe is in sound condition, but in need of a thorough overhaul. Although the Maunsell Locomotive Society are currently pre-occupied with restoring their fourth ex Barry loco - U class 1638, they are keen on seeing Stowe back in steam at an early date. Having only just concluded negotiations to purchase the loco it is not yet possible to indicate when work to overhaul Stowe will start, but the Society are now reviewing options for the overhaul with the Bluebell Railway and hope to make an announcement soon.

The purchase of Stowe will ensure that it stays on the Bluebell Railway. This will allow the railway to become the only former Southern Railway line where it will be possible to recreate the image of a pre-war SR express train with a Maunsell express passenger loco and authentic rake of Maunsell coaches. The purchase of Stowe is a tremendous boost to the Society. It will mean that the Society is now the owner of the most comprehensive collection of Maunsell loco designs, with examples of freight, mixed traffic and express passenger locos. We are also pleased that it will possible to keep a link between Stowe and Montague Ventures without whom the engine would have been scrapped in 1962. The Schools class was the most powerful 4-4-0 ever built and Stowe is particularly special being the fastest recorded member of its class. The Society is literally putting everything it has into the purchase of the loco. It will remain a key item in the country's largest collection of Southern locos. The Bluebell Railway has agreed to fund and undertake the overhaul that Stowe requires. We are keen to do whatever we can to assist. .

Technical Specification

An interesting and useful side profile of 928 by Nicky Raithby can be found by clicking here

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928 Stowe in Southern Railway and British Railway service

928 Stowe was one of the twenty engines making up the second batch of the 'Schools' class. Constructed under order 631 at Eastleigh works, the locomotives were costed at £5374 each. 928 was released to traffic in June 1934 (carrying boiler 1029 and attached to tender 728) and sent to Fratton depot for work on the Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour route.

Upon electrification of the Portsmouth Direct route in July 1937, 928 went with the other Fratton 'Schools' to Bournemouth shed. It was repainted 'Bournemouth' (later to be known as malachite) green in July 1938 and performed with distinction on the Waterloo - Weymouth expresses. It holds the highest speed authenticated for the class - 95 mph - which was attained near Wool under the hand of Driver Guy on a four-coach train from Dorchester to Wareham, the 15 miles taking no more than 13¼ minutes.

In September 1939 Stowe was fitted with a Flaman recorder and in April 1942 donned the wartime black livery. In November 1946 it was transferred to Brighton and worked the Brighton - Salisbury/Bournemouth trains. Malachite green livery was regained in July 1947 and in October that year a move was made to Bricklayers Arms Shed. Renumbered 30928 in June 1948 the next reallocation was to Stewarts Lane in December of that year, in company with 929 (then unrenumbered) to work the Newhaven boat trains. 'The Hornbys' - Bulleids three electric locomotives - soon took over this job and Stowe went back to Bricklayers Arms in May 1949 but not before it had inadvertently made the first passage of the class from Lewes up the Uckfield line.

On 7th February 1949 30928 was called out to take a fitter up to Uckfield to examine 'Atlantic' 2425 which had a crosshead key work loose whilst proceeding light from Newhaven shed to Uckfield preparatory to working the 8.18am to London. Repairs could not be effected to enable the 'Atlantic' to take the business train forward so Driver Lower decided to use 30928 instead, not realising the class was prohibited across Ashurst viaduct. In later years official sanction was given for the 'Schools' to use the route. In June 1949 Stowe appeared in BR lined black livery and without its pressure relief valves. In April/May 1955 it lost tender 728 and received 710 and then in August 1957 had tender 714 attached on the occasion of the engine's first visit to Ashford works (previously all shoppings had been at Eastleigh).

The last visit Stowe made to works in the course of non repair was May/July 1959 - after it had a grand total of 1,040,040 miles from the time of construction - when it , AWS gear, blowdown valve gear and water treatment liners to coupled wheels and was regaled in B R Brunswick Green.

Loaned to Tonbridge in August 1961 it was finally transferred to Brighton in November of that year to be withdrawn a year later on the 17th November 1962. It was noted as to be withheld from scrapping in May 1963 and was purchased by Lord Montagu, being transferred from rail to road at Millbrook on 14th February 1964, arriving at Beaulieu the same day still in B R green livery. Lord Robertson of Oakridge performed the inauguration ceremony on 24th March 1964 at the Motor Museum of the 'Bournemouth Belle' - which comprised a static exhibition in the open of 30928 and three Pullman coaches - a train Stowe never appears to have headed.

Kind thanks to the Bluebell Railway and their Stowe recommissioning booklet in the preparation of this article

Further information can be gained from info@maunsell.net

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