A heritage railway has uncovered stories of women who built steam locomotives during World War II.

The Watercress Line Heritage Railway is restoring the Canadian Pacific, a Merchant Navy Class locomotive originally built at Eastleigh Works in 1941.

As men were called up for military service, women stepped into their roles. Project leader Dr Becky Peacock found the names of these women marked in red, indicating they were to be let go at the war's end.

The Merchant Navy steam locomotives were the only major engine class designed and built during the war due to material and labour shortages.

Wartime planners approved the new class of locos, built at Eastleigh Works, recognising the Southern Railway routes' importance to channel ports.

Locomotive 35005 Canadian Pacific, now in the final stages of restoration, began its journey at Eastleigh Works and is being completed at Ropley, Hampshire.

Boiler shop volunteer Steve Wilson, who has worked on the project for 12 years, shared his personal connection to the locomotive.

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Both his parents worked at Eastleigh Works in 1940, with his mother Pam staying on while his father joined the war. After the war, the couple reunited and married in January 1946.

The Watercress Line is seeking stories about building Canadian Pacific during the war.

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."

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."