Plumpton the Steam Engine
During the launch event in June, Ken Beard mentioned that there used to be a steam train called ‘Plumpton’. Southern Railway issued publicity asking if anyone had any information about the engine – below is the result:
“Plumpton” 345 – March 1882 to January 1911
Stroudley "G" Class Single 2-2-2
A prototype single locomotive, No. 151 Grosvenor, was designed by Stroudley and produced by Brighton Railway Works in December 1874. This was extensively tested before a second, scaled down locomotive No. 325 Abergavenny, was ordered in June 1876 and completed in January 1877. A modified design was developed and twelve further locomotives, including “Plumpton”, were built between December 1880 and November 1881. The members of this class worked express trains between London and South Coast towns such as Portsmouth, Brighton and Eastbourne, and covered large mileages. Withdrawals began in May 1905 and the last locomotive survived until May 1914.
A poster can now be seen at the station. Picture courtesy of Ken Beard.