WITH resident Light Pacific No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair soon to return to steam (see News, page 11), it seemed to be that Giants of Steam 2023 was focusing on Bulleid’s powerful mixed traffic locomotives.
With on static display in ‘Pullman Dock’ at Sheffield Park, the October 13-15 event saw the pairing of Battle of Britain and West Country No. 34027 voyage to Sussex from the Swanage and Severn Valley railways respectively. Unrebuilt was the last locomotive to utilise Bulleid’s unusual 21C numbering system, having been outshopped in 1947 as No. 21C170, while in contrast (which is without air-smoothed casing) never carried its own (No. 21C127) in its current form. However, following its well-documented and controversial time as No. 70 last year, it now currently sports the 21C identity while wearing SR wartime black livery with the region’s iconic sunshine lettering.
