The SR Merchant Navy class is a class of air-smoothed 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives designed for the Southern Railway by Oliver Bulleid. The Pacific design was chosen in preference to several others proposed by Bulleid.
Locale: South Western main line
Build date: February 1941
Fuel type: Coal
Total produced: 30
Builders: Southern Railway, Eastleigh Works
Preservation[]
Of the thirty engines built eleven are preserved with one member of the class 35028 Clan Line being purchased directly from British Railways service. The rest being rescued from Woodham Brothers Scrapyard in Barry, South Wales. With all thirty engines being rebuilt in BR days no unrebuilt example survives but one engine 35011 General Steam Navigation is being restored to it's original unrebuilt condition.
Five engines have run in preservation: 35005, 35006, 35018, 35027 and 35028. Three members of the class: 35005, 35018 and 35028 have also operated on the mainline in preservation. As of April 2024, three Merchant Navy's are operational with 35018 and 35028 having mainline certificates while 35006 is restricted to run only on heritage railways. Three engines: 35005, 35009, 35011 and 35025 are in the process of undergoing overhauls/restoration. 35009 and 35011 are undergoing restorations with plans to operate on the mainline while 35005 and 35025 are being overhauled/restored to run only on heritage railways. 35022 and 35027 while presently stored awaiting restorations are planned to operate on the mainline.
Image
Number (SR)
Number (BR)
Name
Nameplate Colour
Built
Rebuilt
Withdrawn
Shape
Owner
Livery
Home Base
Current status
Mainline Certified
Notes
21C5
35005
Canadian Pacific
Red
December 1941
May 1959
October 1965
Rebuilt
Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society
BR Lined Green, Late Crest (on completion)
Mid Hants Railway
Undergoing Overhaul
No
21C6
35006
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
Red
December 1941
October 1959
August 1964
Rebuilt
35006 Locomotive Company
BR Lined Green, Late Crest
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Operational, Boiler Ticket Expires: 2025
No
21C9
35009
Shaw Savill
July 1942
March 1957
September 1964
Rebuilt
Ian Riley
BR Lined Blue, Early Emblem (on completion)
East Lancashire Railway
Undergoing Restoration
No (to be certified)
In ex Barry-scrapyard condition
21C10
35010
Blue Star
August 1942
January 1957
September 1966
Rebuilt
British Enginemen Steam Preservation Society
Colne Valley Railway
Stored, Awaiting Restoration
No
In ex Barry-scrapyard condition
21C11
35011
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
Red
December 1944
July 1959
February 1966
Rebuilt (Unrebuilt)
General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society
TBC
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
Undergoing Restoration
No (to be certified)
Undergoing restoration to original un-rebuilt shape.