Southern Locomotives Limited
Southern Locomotives Limited (SLL) is an unlisted Company number 02479435 which was first incorporated on 12 March 1990, and is "dedicated to restoring, operating and maintaining Southern's steam heritage."
SLL is the product of several mergers of locomotive owning groups and locomotive acquisitions since the inception of the 'Port Line Locomotive Project' in 1983. It owns SR Bulleid Battle of Britain class locomotive 34053 Sir Keith Park, which entered service on the Severn Valley Railway in August 2012, plus several more locomotives at other locations. SLL's works are at Herston on the Swanage Railway, where restoration of 34053 was completed.
Once a year SLL offers its shareholders the opportunity to 'Drive & Fire' a locomotive. On 29th and 30th September 2016 this was held at the SVR with 34053 and 34027 Taw Valley.
Other SLL locomotives that have visited the SVR are 34072 257 Squadron (Spring 1992), BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80104 (Autumn 1999) and 34070 Manston (August 2010). For several years a large boiler was to be seen in Bridgnorth yard from another of SLL's locomotives, 34010 Sidmouth. This departed in October 2017.
In August 2017 it was announced that SLL and the SVR had mutually agreed not to renew the agreement for operating 34053 and the locomotive would move to Swanage after the end of season services in Januaury 2018. This agreement leaves every opportunity for further locos from the SLL fleet to visit in future years.