In the 1930s HCS Bullock designed and built 11 10¼" 4-6-2 miniature locomotives in Farnborough, Hampshire. The first four were numbered 1001-1004¹ and were followed by seven of an improved design, numbered 2005-2011. All of which were originally given patriotic names. He owned the Farnborough Miniature Railway which had a mile-long track. After his death, in 1938 five of Bullock's 4-6-2 engines were moved nearby to the Surrey Border & Camberley Railway, which on opening in 1938 was intended to be the most ambitious miniature railway ever conceived. At the outbreak of war, the railway closed and the company was placed in receivership and it never reopened.

To commemorate and celebrate the crowning of King Charles III, Eastleigh Lakeside Miniature Railway gathered together for the first time in over 50 years three 2000 class Bullock Pacific engines. Two are part of the railway's collection while the third, number 2011 and aptly named Coronation, was a visitor, allowing the miniature railway to run Coronation over the Coronation weekend². As well as running Coronation, Edward VIII was rebranded as Charles III . 1000 class engine The Monarch was also in steam running a footplate experience. So the railway was running four royal-titled engines and for the first time since 1938/9 on the Surrey Borders & Camberley Railway three 2000 class Bullock Pacific's were run together as a triple-header (Charles III, Silver Jubilee and Coronation).

• 1001 – 1932 - The Monarch
• 2005 – 1935³ - Silver Jubilee
• 2006 – 1936⁴ - Edward VIII - rebranded 2023 - Charles III
• 2011 – 1938⁵ - Coronation

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Bluebottle

22.05.23 Front Page

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