Both locomotives are owned by The Terrier Trust CIO and run on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The Kent & East Sussex Railway are proud to be the home for two of these historic locomotives Bodiam, was the first to be constructed and among the first batch to enter service in 1872, and Knowle, one of the last batch to enter into service in 1880. Only 10 Terriers remain two of which are on static display. The diminutive tank locomotives were designed to haul commuter trains on the already heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. The A1 “Terrier” class locomotives’ diminutive appearance belies the astonishing performance these locomotives put in on Victorian suburban services, earning their “Terrier” nickname from their performance and distinctive ‘bark’.Ī total of 50 Terriers - officially, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class - were built at theīrighton works between 18. In 2022 Stroudley’s iconic A1 & A1X class “Terrier” locomotives will be celebrating 150 years since the first batch of these locomotives entered service. The locomotive brakes on all terriers are air braked and this adds to the distinctive sound you'll hear when a terrier is about, Knowle is fitted for both vaccum and air braked rolling stock. The A1X is an upgraded version of the A1 Terrier which increased it's boiler pressure thanks to a new boiler and increased tractive effort.

Sister loco 'Knowle' an A1X steam engine of a class known as “Terriers” has just completed her overhaul. Amazingly the locomotive was saved from the scrapheap for further use on the K&ESR and is now owned jointly by the K&ESR and the Terrier Trust. After nationalisation it continued to work the K&ESR & later the Hayling Island branch until 1963, when it was again withdrawn. In 1933 a sister locomotive was robbed of parts to restore the loco to working order. Renamed and renumbered to No.3 'Bodiam' in the K&ESR fleet, it served well until 1931 when it was withdrawn. However these locos had considerable potential on the second hand market and the loco was purchased by the K&ESR in 1901 for £650 - with 664,108 miles to its credit.

The loco now known as 'Poplar' entered service in 1872, working suburban trains in the London area, but by the turn of the century had become too small for the increasing traffic. Affectionately known to many as ‘Terriers', they had a capacity for hard work far in excess of their diminutive size. Two of the ten surviving members of this class of locomotive reside on the K&ESR.

Bank Holiday Weekend - Teddy Bear Picnic.

Steam roller picnic