This is Your Life: LSWR Adams Radial Tank No. 488

Series 2 Episode 5

Hello and welcome back to This is Your Life. This time, we look at the life and career of a South Western tank engine that is over 100 years old, worked right up to her centenary and has justly deserved her current retirement. She started in London Suburbs, moved on to the Military, was brought back to serve the holiday traffic to Lyme Regis and has now retired to the Bluebell Railway.

The locomotive in question - London South Western Railway Adams Radial Tank No. 488.


Credits:
1) Emily Theme - InstrumentManiac.
2) Elizabeth Theme - Mavis M.
3) Ride of the Valkyries - Copyright Free Classical Music.
4) Elgar’s Severn Suite - Rodders.
5) Calbourne’s Whistle - soparker.
6) 488 being shunted at Sheffield Park - MLawrence2008.


Seeing as how 488 has not steamed since 1990, most of the footage of her is now either in a private collection or exists but is quite dated. There is however a quality film showing 488 running with a four coach train between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes in the late 1960s. There is no date on the film but I assume it’s the late 60s because it shows 488 in her restored form - LSWR livery, number and all. The film has no sound but is in colour. If you’re interested, I have linked the film from Huntley Film Archives below.

   • Adams Radial On the Bluebell, 1960's ...  

Amendment Wed 20 Sep 2023 - The news has now come that 488 will swap places with 9017 in the overhaul queue after ‘Beachy Head’ has been finished.

In other news:
‘Endeavour’ will return next week with ‘NATIVITAS’ so I hope you’ll stay tuned for that.


Thanks very much for watching, viewers.

Stay Safe, Stay Cool & Stay Tuned!

- Alex.