Ninth Terrier Pitches in at 130

The ninth oldest, or second-youngest surviving “Terrier” locomotive, built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway at Brighton Works, reaches the grand old age of 130 this summer.

As No.78 “Knowle”, she entered service on July 23rd 1880, initially being based at New Cross for work on the East London line.  The final eight Terriers all entered service that year and were distinguished from their 42 class-mates by having the Westinghouse Air Brake as well as iron brake shoes fitted from new.

Assigned to the A-class for 0-6-0 suburban passenger locomotives, of which the 50 Terriers were ultimately the only occupants, they were already becoming outclassed in the 1880s by rising passenger numbers, not only on the East London but also the South London line for which other class members were allocated to Battersea, including “Fenchurch” and “Brighton”.

Consequently, the locomotives were dispatched to quieter lines, initially across the Brighton network, but then to other locations across the country and even to Admiralty service in Scotland.

In November 1911, the renumbered 678 and her late sister, originally No.77 “Wonersh”, became the first two Terriers to be rebuilt with a new boiler and smokebox.  This gives 678 the distinction of being the both the youngest Terrier still in service and the oldest A1X, as the rebuilds were formally classified.

“Knowle” has led an extraordinary and peripatetic career, dodging the cutter’s torch on at least two occasions.  Three main duties were prominent throughout the C20th: on the Isle of Wight between the wars, several spells on the famous Hayling Island branch and most notably for almost continual service on the Kent & East Sussex Railway from February 1940 to June 1958, on loan from the Southern as 2678.

A static exhibition at Butlin’s, Minehead, following final withdrawal from BR in 1963, 32678 as currently liveried and popularly known, eventually found her way back to Rolvenden as a kit of parts in 1988 under private ownership.  Over ten years later, on May 30th 1999, she re-entered service on the K&ESR, being dedicated by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.

The quality of her 1990s rebuild meant that the next overhaul, from the end of 2006 to early 2009 was much shorter and relatively straightforward.  Now wholly owned by The Terrier Trust, which also owns 80% of the iconic K&ESR Terrier No.3 “Bodiam”, her working future on the line is secure in perpetuity.

32678 may be seen at work on various dates throughout the summer – for the latest updates please refer to the Trust’s website at www.terriertrust.org.uk

Both Terriers are also rostered to work trains at the annual Hoppers Weekend, September 11th and 12th where there will be the opportunity to see them top-and-tail in the traditional K&ESR manner.

HN-24/06/2010