Railway's search for women who built steam locomotive in Eastleigh

New research has uncovered the missing stories of the women who built steam locomotives during the Second World War.  

The Watercress Line Heritage Railway, which runs from Alton to Alresford, is restoring a Merchant Navy Class locomotive named Canadian Pacific 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.  

Canadian Pacific (Image: Nic Greene)

She discovered that the names of the women were recorded in red so that they would be ‘let go’ at the end of the war.  

The 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.”

The Merchant Navy steam locomotives was 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 Pacific has been undergoing a huge restoration which began at the Eastleigh works near Southampton in which it was originally built.  It is now in the final stages of completion at the Watercress Line engineering works in Ropley, Hampshire.  

Rebecca said: “The young women who built Canadian Pacific ended the war and went back to their normal lives when the men returned.  They are likely to have got married and the trail has gone cold.  But there could be one or two still with us. How amazing would it be to relaunch this incredible locomotive with one of the original builders from Eastleigh?

(Image: The Watercress Line)

“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!” 

If you or your family members have a story about building Canadian Pacific during World War II, The Watercress Line wants to hear from you. Email museum@watercressline.co.uk. 

To find out how you can join the launch of Canadian Pacific and support the project, sign up to the Watercress Line Canadian Pacific newsletter, visit the Watercress Line Facebook page or email  campaigns@watercressline.co.uk. To donate to the completion of Canadian Pacific go to watercressline.co.uk/donations