Bluebell Railway based LBSCR E4 class 473 'Birch Grove' has arrived on the Isle of Wight to help pull the trains at The Isle of Wight Steam Railway through the busy summer holiday period.

Former 'London Brighton and South Coast Railway' E4 class locomotive 'Birch Grove' was ferried across the Solent this week and will be operating on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway from the end of July until the beginning of September. The locomotive, which previously visited the Isle of Wight for the first time in 1999, is taking time out from duties at the 'Bluebell Railway' in East Sussex where she is based, and will assist with train services on the Island's steam line throughout the summer season.

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"This is a very welcome return for Birch Grove", commented Len Pullinger, IW Steam Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer. "She's a good sized powerful engine for our line and was very popular with staff and visitors when she visited us four years ago. Our own 'flagship' locomotive, LSWR O2 Class W24 'Calbourne' is currently out of action pending boiler repairs, Birch Grove will be providing the additional large engine capability required to operate the heavy, 5 bogie-coach trains needed to give sufficient passenger carrying capacity during the height of the season. Naturally, we're indebted to our friends at The Bluebell Railway for loaning us the loco".

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Dating from the late Victorian era, Birch Grove was originally built at the former LBSCR Brighton works in 1898 and worked in and around the South Coast and Brighton area until purchased from BR in October 1962 by The Bluebell Railway. She then worked on the Bluebell until 1971 and then spent some years out of traffic until undergoing a full overhaul and restoration which was completed in 1998.

Birch Grove will begin her duties hauling trains on the IW Steam Railway on 29th July and will be in action at the August Bank Holiday Steam Show.

For details of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's exciting 2003 programme of Special Events click HERE