1920s Locomotives.

1920s Locomotives.
Lord Nelson and Gladstone, May 1927..

Tuesday 18 February 2014

For the curious...

These six photographs are curious in various ways, some to do with age, others with events. I would love some help with the vary early ones!
28. A763 was named Betty Balfour by a signwriter during the general strike (1926) and de-named a year later at its next routine painting. It was the only named engine of this class. A similar photograph, but with two men standing in front of the engine, is included in Locomotives Illustrated 23. There is also a picture apparently appears in D L Bradley's 'Locomotives of the SECR' (first edition) though I haven't seen it.


29. Of of the SECR (Ashford based but not built) 'Rivers', (A) 797 River Mole, a 2-6-4 K class tank, 1925. I think it is a smart looking tank, but the class had an unfortunate history. After a serious accident at Bearsted (River Frome) in 1927, followed by another at Dunton Green (River Clay), when both engines became derailed (though without serious injuries) caused in all probability by the state of the track, the whole class were withdrawn and rebuilt as tender engines in 1928. I haven't so far found photographs of the rebuild.

30. Now for the oldies: Stirling  Victorian engine 377, with a very distinctive tender. Thanks, Peter for the detail: "an ex-South Eastern Railway Stirling loco as rebuilt by Wainwright into class O1. The full SR number is (A) 377 and the SECR ownership plate is still on the cabside, making the photo only just post-1923".

31. Pencilled on the back is 'No 162'. I can just make out the 16 using magnification. Class 302. Peter Smart says: W.G. Beatie  single framed Beyer goods engine built by Beyer Peacock in 1878 originally named "Severn". It was rebuilt by Adams in 1886 and not withdrawn until December 1924.

32. This and the next seem similar except for the external springs.  LSWR 273-A, (class 302). Peter Smart says: 32  273A & 33 286A show  Beyer Double Framed goods engines.  These originate from 1866 and were ordered when Nine Elms works were unable to supply urgently required goods engines in a reasonable time scale. Both your photos show them as rebuilt by Adams.  They had been laid aside but were reinstated after the WD had requisitioned a number of Adams 395 class 0-6-0s and remained in service until 1924.  273A was withdrawn in 5/24 and 286A in 3/24

33. and 246-A (class 302)


2 comments:

  1. The third photo down (no. 30) isn't a Beattie loco, but an ex-South Eastern Railway Stirling one as rebuilt by Wainwright into class O1. The full number is (A) 372 and the SECR ownership plate is still on the cabside, making the photo only just post-1923.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry, number for 30 is (A)377 not (A)372, but same class so other comments still apply!

    ReplyDelete