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Locomotives that should have been preserved, but weren’t.

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 6220Coronation, Dec 15, 2021.

  1. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

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    The NSW Class C32 was another example of a design very similar in size and layout to the HR Jones Goods.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_C32_class_locomotive

    We have had some interesting posts in this thread about the preservation situation in Ireland and in Australia, so perhaps time for a look at Scotland. The five Scottish main-line companies reached the 1923 Grouping with about 2950 locomotives, of which nine have been preserved:

    CR: 4-2-2 No 123 (b 1886), 0-6-0 No 828 (b. 1899), 0-4-4T No 419 (b. 1908).
    NBR: 4-4-0 No 256 Glen Douglas (b. 1913), 0-6-0 No 673 Maude (b. 1891), 0-4-0ST No. 42 (b. 1887).
    HR: 4-6-0 No 103 (b. 1894).
    GNSR: 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander (b. 1920).
    G&SWR: 0-6-0T No 9 (b. 1917).

    At least three other Scottish locos were considered for preservation but ultimately scrapped:

    GNSR 4-4-0 No 45A (b. 1866).
    NBR 4-4-2 No 875 Midlothiab (b. 1906).
    HR 4-4-0 No 2 Ben Alder (b. 1898).

    So what else should have been preserved but wasn't? Unless I've overlooked something, the oldest of the surviving Scottish engines dates from 1886. One big gap is the Pre-Drummond era on the Caledonian, which was mainly a world of outside-cylinder engines, with the 2-2-2 and 2-4-0 classes following the "Old Crewe Type" of double-frames with connecting rods working between the frames, plus outside-cylinder 0-4-2s for the mineral traffic.

    https://railway-photography.smugmug...n-Conner/Benjamin-Conner-assorted-CR-designs/

    Scotland also saw the first of the classic British inside-cylinder inside-frame 4-4-0s in the early 1870s, from Thomas Wheatley on the NBR and James Stirling on the G&SWR. From later periods, the CR Dunalastairs were historically important as probably the first British move (1896) to larger passenger engines to handle the heavier corridor stock being introduced. And Dugald Drummond's 294-class "Jumbo" 0-6-0 (intro. 1883) was noteworthy as both Drummond's and Scotland's most numerous single class (total 244 if you count the follow-on builds by Lambie & McIntosh).
     
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  2. Musket The Dog

    Musket The Dog New Member

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    It's been mentioned a lot elsewhere, but how about W13 Ryde? Aside from WW2 preventing it making it's way into a museum it would represent quite a significant missing link in the Isle of Wight's remarkably well catered locomotive history. Although the majority of the various Beyer Peacock 2-4-0Ts were all slightly different to each other they were almost a version of standardisation before the Terriers, E1s and O2s arrived. Maybe not that significant in the grand scheme of things, but tantalisingly close to a full set as it were. Glad to know that there are a couple of similar types preserved in Australia though.
     
  3. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    I've never come across any reference of any attempt to save the last Highland locomotives, the W class tank engines latterly used on the Dornoch branch. Withdrawn in 1957 which is just a few years too early for the ground swell of railway preservation north of the border.

    A lot of Scottish classes were wiped out in the years after grouping and the GSWR famously comes off the worst with a lot being replaced by the mid 1930s.
     

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