34046 Braunton, SR West Country Class
A preserved SR West Country Class 4-6-2 Pacific, built at Brighton Works in 1946 as SR No. 21C146. Rebuilt by British Railways. Withdrawn from British Railways service in 1965. Rescued from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry, South Wales in 1988 after twenty-three years in the yard. Acquired for preservation and initially moved to Brighton, then to the West Somerset Railway in 1996 for restoration.
Braunton is now one of the most active main-line certified steam locomotives on the national network, owned and operated by Locomotive Services Ltd. Between 2016 and 2019 she ran under the identity of the scrapped 34052 Lord Dowding before reverting to her own nameplate. She hauls regular excursions on routes including the Settle and Carlisle and Welsh Marches lines.
Last recorded as main-line certified and based at Crewe (LSL), owner Locomotive Services Ltd. Operating status: Main-line certified. Current livery: BR Brunswick green.
Location, livery and operating status last confirmed pre-2024 and subject to change. Check with the owning organisation or heritage railway for current information.
Notable history
34046 Braunton was built at Brighton Works in 1946 as SR No. 21C146, a rebuilt member of the West Country class. Withdrawn from British Railways in 1965, she went to Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry and was rescued in 1988, moved first to Brighton for a restoration attempt that stalled due to missing parts. In 1996 the West Somerset Railway Association purchased her and she was moved to the West Somerset Railway where the substantial restoration was eventually completed. She has since operated extensively on the main line. From 2016 to 2019 she carried the identity of the scrapped sister locomotive 34052 Lord Dowding for railtour work, before reverting to her own identity. She is owned and operated by Locomotive Services Ltd and is one of the most active main-line steam locomotives on the national network.
