32650 (LBSCR 50 Whitechapel, LBSCR 650, SR B650, IoW W9 Fishbourne, SR 2650, BR DS515 & BR 32650)

32650 at Rovenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway - July 1970.jpg

32650 was built in 1876 as 50 Whitechapel and rebuilt as a class A1X in 1920.

It was transferred to the Isle of Wight Railway in 1930 as W9 Fishbourne. It returned to the mainland in 1937 when it was renumbered 515S and became the Lancing Works shunter. It later became DS515 and briefly converted to oil-burning and was returned to capital stock in 1953. As 32650 it was posted to Fratton to work the Hayling Island branch. Withdrawn in November 1963 following the closure of the Hayling branch.

BR motive power depot allocations.

Date ArrivedDepot
August 1953Fratton
November 1959Eastleigh
  • Fratton depot closed in November 1959 resulting in the transfer to Eastleigh.

50 Whitechapel was purchased by London Borough of Sutton and Merton in 1963 (after the originally intended purchase, No.61 Sutton, had been cut up). The intention was to display the engine outside the new Civic Centre, and the engine was offered a home on the K&ESR until the work was completed. The engine was restored and used to haul the opening train on the preserved K&ESR in 1974.

It was taken out of service in 1994 and after slipping down the overhaul queue at Rolvenden, the engine was moved to the Spa Valley Railway by the owners (the engine still being owned by Sutton Borough Council) and restoration work commenced.

The overhaul at the Spa Valley Railway progressed to a state where the locomotive was re-wheeled and work started on the boiler during 2018.

The locomotive is unlikely to be back in steam in 2021 but probably in 2022.

Home BaseCurrent StatusOwner
Spa Valley RailwayUnder overhaulSutton London Borough Council
32650 still as Southern Railway B650 at Brighton – Circa 1930
32650 whilst running as W9 on the Isle of Wight – Circa 1935
32650 at Hayling Island waiting to depart for Havant – July 1957
32650 at Hayling Island with a train from Havant – September 1961
32650 departing from Havant – Circa 1963 – The line closed in November 1963
32650 at Hayling Island station – Circa 1963 – The line closed in November 1963
32650 ar Eastleigh - June 1964.jpg
32650 at Eastleigh – June 1964
32650, 30102 and 32662 lie in the scrap line at Eastleigh – July 1964
32650 at Eastleigh Works - 1964.jpg
32650 at Eastleigh Works – 1964
32650 at Rolvenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway – circa 1966
32650 at Rovenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway - July 1970.jpg
32650 at Rovenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway – July 1970
32650 at Rolvenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway - July 1980.jpg
32650 at Rolvenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway – July 1980
32650 at Rolvenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway – Circa 1986
32650 at Rolvenden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway – Circa 1989
32650 at the Spa Valley Railway – Possibly in 1992

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