Page 24 • The HERALD • 14th November 2024 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v FREE ESTIMATES • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE HYTHE: office.atlaswindows@gmail.com FAX/PHONE 023 8084 0441 Unit 2, Hardley Ind Est, Southampton ESTABLISHED FOR 30 YEARS THE LOCAL WINDOW COMPANY WITH THE BIG REPUTATION SUPPLY & INSTALL • Windows • Porches • Conservatories in PVCu • Doors • Choice of Colours & Woodgrain EXPERT DOMESTICS APPLIANCE SERVICES Sales and Repairs to All Makes and Models 169-171 LONG LANE, HOLBURY • TEL (023) 8089 0054 POSSIBLY THE ONLY INDEPENDENT MAIN DEALER IN THE NEW FOREST For Bosch, Belling, Britannia, Candy, Ebac, Hotpoint, Hoover, Indesit, Ice King, LG, LEC, Liebherr, Miele, Neff, Sebo, Siemens, Stoves, Whirlpool, Zanussi and more... Free Standing & Built In Sales Centre Over 300 appliances in stock www.expertdomestics.co.uk Next Level Scaffolding Ash 07702 082961 Next Level Scaffolding Josh 07896 883508 ashcarroll@nextlevel-ltd.co.uk Your Local Professional Electrician • Complete Rewires • Periodic Inspection Reports • Fault Finding & Repair • New Consumer Units • New Circuits • Central Heating Wiring • Extra Sockets/Lights • PAT Testing • No Job Too Small • Part P Registered • Fast & Efficient Service • Free Estimates Telephone Gary on 07788 865081 forestelectrical@gmail.com Send your local news to The Editor, The Herald, 2 High Street, Hythe SO45 6AH or email: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk The Watercress Line Heritage Railway is Searching for the Missing Women Who Built a Wartime Steam Locomotive in Eastleigh New research has uncovered the missing stories of the women who built steam locomotives during the Second World War. e Watercress Line Heritage Railway is restoring a Merchant Navy Class locomotive named Canadian Paci c that was built at the Eastleigh Works in 1941. At that time, during the Second World War, women were taking the place of men who had been called up for military service. Project leader Dr Becky Peacock uncovered the names of the women who took their place at the Eastleigh Locomotive Works during the research for the National Lottery supported project. She discovered that the names of the women were marked in red so that they would be ‘let go’ at the end of the war. e Watercress Line CEO Rebecca Dalley said: “At the time and just a mile away, women building Spitfires were being photographed and promoted. Their war service was acknowledged and celebrated. The loco women have been written out of history.” e Merchant Navy steam locomotives were the only major engine class to be designed and built during the war, due to the shortage of labour and materials during that time. Wartime planners recognised the huge importance of the Southern Railway routes to the Channel ports and approved the new class of locos which were built at the Eastleigh Works, near Southampton. Locomotive 35005 Canadian Paci c has been undergoing a huge restoration which began at the Eastleigh Works, where it was originally built. It is now in the nal stages of completion at the Watercress Line engineering works in Ropley, Hampshire. Rebecca Dalley said: “We are in the last stages of Canadian Pacific’s restoration, and it will be launching it in Spring 2025. This has been a huge, nationally important project over the last decade, supported by the National Lottery and involving hundreds of people across the South of England who have volunteered for the project. The last piece of the puzzle is the women who built these magnificent engines. It’s time to recognise the sacrifices they made to step in when they were needed. We’re asking the public to let us know if their family member was involved in building Canadian Pacific and the other Merchant Navy locos during the war. Who knows, we might find someone still with us to join us for the launch!” Boiler shop volunteer Steve Wilson, who has worked on the project for 12 years, revealed that his history with the locomotive goes back much further than its restoration. Mr Wilson’s parents both worked at the Eastleigh Works in 1940. While his father joined the war, later being held as a Prisoner of War working on the Burma Railway, his mother Pam stayed at the Eastleigh Works. e couple were happily reunited a er the war and married in January 1946. Mr Wilson said: “Both my parents worked at the Eastleigh Works during the Second World War, my father was a blacksmith, and my mother worked as machinist on the capstan lathe right through the war, making parts for new locomotives. It is wonderful to think that she may well have made studs that are still in Canadian Pacific today.” If you, or your family members, have a story about building Canadian Paci c during the Second World War, e Watercress Line wants to hear from you. Please contact: museum@watercressline.co.uk they can’t wait to hear your story. To nd out how you can join the launch of Canadian Paci c and support the project, sign up to e Watercress Line’s Canadian Paci c newsletter, visit e Watercress Line Facebook page or email your interest to: campaigns@ watercressline.co.uk You can donate to the completion of Canadian Paci c at: www.watercressline.co.uk/donations Women at work on the boiler in 1942. Photo: IWM
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