Polar Bear is a 2-4-0T side tank steam locomotive.
History[]
Polar Bear was built in 1905 by W. G. Bagnall to a design by William G. Bagnall for the Groudle Glen Railway on the Isle of Man where it joined it's sibling Sea Lion until 1915 when the railway remained closed until 1919. In 1921 both locos where replaced by electric locomotives which carried the same name as the steam locos. But these electric locomotives were found to be unreliable and so the steam locos returned.
In 1939 the railway closed for world war two and reopened in 1950. However only Polar Bear was reissued to traffic until the railways permanent closure in 1962. Polar Bear was preserved by the Amberley Museum Railway in 1967. It was restored to operation in the late 1980s until the mid 1990s and then until 2005. It then returned in 2013 and has been operating ever since. Sea Lion is also preserved and operates on the revived Groudle Glen Railway.
On October 29, 2022 Polar Bear was removed from service following the expiration of its 10-year boiler certificate. The museum is currently holding a fundraiser to help aid with the overhaul.
