Scrapping of pre Grouping locos.

An ex G&SWR 0-6-0t (LMS 56379) survived in NCB service at Hafod colliery Wrexham until 1962 when it went to Glasgow Transport Museum.

Two ex Taff Vale 0-6-2t were in service at NCB Philadelphia,Co Durham until 1966 and 1958 when they were scrapped.

 

A number of posts on this thread (including mine on (31)178 and (300)96) provide a salutary reminder to those of us who don't profess take a great deal of interest in "industrial locos" (use of quotation marks quite deliberate), that we have "industry" to thank for the survival of a number of popular locomotives which were built by the main line companies. Indeed, there would be no locos at all to represent the G&SWR and NSR without their being sold for use by coal mines. This may also be the case with some of the South Wales companies, but I'll let someone better informed than me confirm this or not as the case may be. No fewer than five 57xx panniers (3650, 7714, 7754, 9600 and 9842) entered preservation following a stint in the South Wales coalfield and the only genuine J94s. No's 68077 and 68078 likewise worked at collieries after withdrawal by BR. A second P class, 31556 alias "Pride of Sussex" entered preservation via industry, being sold to a flour mill in Robertsbridge before making the short journey to Rolvenden and a new life in preservation. Given the lack of traditional heavy industries in the South of England, it's quite interesting that three pre-grouping SR locos found their way into preservation following industrial use.

Apologies if this is slightly off topic, but not totally irrelevant to the main theme of the thread.

 

More than just three from the south that survived that way, John - there is also the unique Stroudley E1 (sold to the Cannock and Rugely Colliery in the 1920s). Arguably the Adams radial tank as well, sold to the Government for a period, then back to a light railway and thence back into mainline service 30-odd years after its first "withdrawal!"

Tom

 

Similarly slightly off- topic but interesting, one of the earliest withdrawals to pass into industrial service and survive into preservation, must be GER "209" class (LNE Y5) no.229.
Built 1876, withdrawn 1918 and sold to National Shipyard, Chepstow, purchased from their successors, Fairfields Engineering, by Bill Parker, of Flourmill fame, 197x, expected back in steam next year.

 

Thanks Tom. I'd forgotten about the E1. and hadn't thought of 488, but yes, it also qualifies and maybe Fenchurch too as Newhaven Harbour Co could be counted as "industry" rather than "main line railway company" before the SR took it over. Just wish someone could unearth Terriers 52 and 57 from darkest South America and add them to our list!

 

There's also GWR 1378, built by Fox Walker & Co for the North Pembrokeshire & Fishguard Railway in 1878, and when that line was taken over by the GWR in 1898 it became GWR 1378. It was then sold by the GWR to the Gwendraeth Valley Railway (which was more of a very long industrial siding than a real railway) in 1910. When that line was absorbed by the GWR at the grouping it had been sold to the Kidwelly Tinplate Co, which, very un-coincidentally, was the enterprise the GVR primarily existed to serve. It ran there until the works closed, and became the property of another industrial concern. Astonishingly it remained in service until the 1960s and is now preserved as a museum exhibit, but does not seem to have been steamed in preservation.

 

KESRS P class 1556 was at work at Robertsbridge' sHonson Mill until 1970 I believe.

 

yes that is correct " Pride of Sussex" i believe she carried full SECR livery also,

 

Thanks for your replies everyone; I didn't realise this thread would run to three pages.
Next time I have a query such as this, instead of asking "mainline", I'll specify "tender locos".

 

Your enquiry has shown that there are some forum members with considerable knowledge of the small companies of South Wales and their locos. I would say that my knowledge of the history of most surviving locos from BR and its predecessors is pretty good, but when it comes to what has survived from the Burry Port, Taff Vale, Cardiff and other lines in the area, I wouldn't have a clue! These lines and their locos all seem very complicated and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not the only one in this position, so I take my (imaginary) hat off to Saggin and Jimc.

 

In my case you can take your virtual hat off to the gentlemen who compiled the RCTS volumes. I do not claim even to be standing on the shoulders of giants, merely looking over their shoulders whilst taking a piggy back!

 

I found it last year and it looked none to healthy, along with a gently rotting signal cabin; took me a little by surprise, still don't know what it's doing there as no info that I could see.

 

It was by the carpark amongst some trees with the signal cabin...

 

I don't think anyone has mentioned GWR 1340 .....'Trojan' ex Alders Paper Mill at Tamworth now at Didcot I believe

 

What about the ex L&Y Barton Wright 0-4-4T's dating from 1877 several of which survived as stationary boilers into the 1960's, all having been withdrawn from capital stock before the grouping. IIRC the very last one, at Edge Hill carriage sidings, was not cut up until Spring 1969.
Ray.