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32678 stars alongside Michael Portillo in Great British Railway Journeys

Details: Published: Friday, 22 February 2019 09:51

Michael Portillo with 32678 at Tenterden Town Station - 10-10-18 Photograph © Andre Freeman

One of the Trust's two "Terriers", No 32678, has a starring role in the latest episode of the popular BBC 2 series Great British Railway Journeys. The show airs on BBC2 at 6.30pm on 22 February and is then available on iPlayer.

The episode sees Portillo head from East Malling to Rye, taking in the Kent & East Sussex Railway en-route. Terriers have been synonymous with the line since its earliest days so it's no surprise that 32678 was chosen to haul the special train for the filming which took place in October 2018. The dimuntive stalwart was paired with SECR "birdcage" coach No 1100 and two wagons to form a mixed train evocative of those that ran on the line in the middle of the last century. 32678 is no stranger to the "the mixed" having frequently been employed on similar workings during her extended stay on the K&ESR from 1940 until 1954, initially on hire from the Southern and later under the auspices of British Railways.

32678 is scheduled to be in action on the Kent & East Sussex Railway on 23 and 24 February working her last trips prior to withdrawal for overhaul.

32678 filming contract 10 10 18 Phil Edwards lr

32678 in action on Wednesday 10 October with a special train used to film sequences for BBC2's Great British Railway Journeys