Thirty Nine Steps?

Eagle eyed observers may have noticed a slight change to “Bodiam”.  Already distinctive because of its raised bunker and open coal rails, in comparison to the more conventional closed coal rails featured on “Knowle” and “Stepney”, or extended Isle of Wight bunker as on “Freshwater” and “Newport”, the engine has now acquired a pair of single treads towards the smokebox end of the boiler which obviously facilitates access to the front end of the loco.

Single tread front steps, with concave shaped verticals to mimic the style of the twin-tread steps giving access to the cab, are a feature of local modifications often added to Isle of Wight engines in the past.  The extended bunkers, almost doubling the capacity of conventional Stroudley bunkers without coal rails to about 1.5 tons are the most obvious change but not necessarily conclusive feature.  “Knowle” acquired an IofW bunker which it retained through BR days only to be rebuilt in the Stroudley style minus tool box but with closed coal rails.  “Martello”, on the other hand, is believed to have got its bunker from 32677.

Front steps, seemingly a feature of later IofW service, appear to have lasted most continuously and longest on “Freshwater”.  Their actual histories are poorly documented, and where fitted, were usually removed when Terriers returned to the mainland but not necessarily immediately.  “Knowle” does not appear to have had them at all until its most recent rebuild.

HN-09/05/2007